In a deeply disturbing turn of events, a 17-year-old boy’s social media post has sparked a violent wave of communal unrest in Bangladesh’s northern district of Rangpur. The Facebook post, deemed derogatory towards Prophet Muhammad, led to an outbreak of mob violence over the weekend that left at least 15 Hindu homes vandalized or looted, forcing multiple families to flee their village in fear.
The incident unfolded in Aldadpur village, where the boy—a third-semester student at a local polytechnic institute—was arrested on Saturday evening under the Cybersecurity Act. According to police officials, the arrest occurred around 8:30 PM following several complaints about the Facebook post. He has since been sent to a juvenile rehabilitation center by court order.
However, his detention did little to ease the situation. Instead, it appeared to incite greater unrest. Mobs stormed the village on both Saturday and Sunday, damaging property, setting homes on fire, and looting valuables. Many families, overwhelmed by the threat to their safety, were forced to abandon their homes, selling off livestock and food grains in haste. Kamalakanta Roy, a resident, shared his anguish: “We didn’t sleep all night. We had 10–12 mon (about 400–480 kg) of paddy, and we’re selling it now to survive.”
Local authorities, including the police and army, were deployed to disperse the violent mobs and secure the area. Despite their presence, the scale of damage was significant. Gold jewellery, legal documents, and household valuables were among the items looted during the chaos. “Fifteen houses were damaged or looted. We are preparing a list and working on financial and other forms of support,” confirmed Mahmud Hasan Mridha, an official who visited the village in the aftermath.
What’s even more troubling is that despite the extent of violence, no FIRs have been filed against the perpetrators so far. This has added to the growing fear and frustration within the Hindu community, who feel increasingly vulnerable in a post-Hasina Bangladesh.
Since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed a sharp escalation in communal violence. The interim government, though claiming to be actively monitoring the situation, has struggled to prevent targeted attacks on minorities. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, there were over 200 cases of attacks against Hindus across 52 districts within just the first week after Hasina’s departure. As of October 22, 2024, the interim government officially acknowledged 88 cases of communal violence.
The Chief Adviser’s Office stated that three families—including the one of the arrested teen and his uncle—have taken refuge with relatives in a neighboring village. The administration has promised to begin repairs of the damaged Hindu homes starting Tuesday under the supervision of both district and sub-district authorities.
Meanwhile, political reactions have been mixed. National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam condemned the attacks but maintained that “no one should be spared for insulting the Prophet,” emphasizing that “justice must follow the law.” On the other hand, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus previously referred to reports of Hindu persecution as “exaggerated propaganda”—a remark that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups.
This incident adds to a growing list of communal flashpoints that highlight the fragile nature of minority rights and interfaith harmony in the region. As Bangladesh navigates this volatile period, questions remain over the effectiveness of its interim government in safeguarding vulnerable communities and restoring the secular fabric of the nation.
