Canadian MP criticises Yunus govt over attacks on Hindus, says ‘different level of horror, evil’

Canadian MP flags ‘horror and evil’ in attacks on Hindus, questions Yunus leadership

Amid rising tensions in Bangladesh, a Canadian lawmaker has issued a strong rebuke of the Muhammad Yunus–led interim government, warning of a deepening collapse of law and order as violence against minority communities, particularly Hindus, continues to intensify.

Shuvaloy Majumdar, Member of Parliament for Calgary Heritage and Vice Chair of Canada’s International Human Rights Subcommittee, made the remarks in an interview with NDTV while reacting to the lynching of Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das.

Also read: Yunus govt pledges support for lynched Hindu worker’s family, says 'differences of belief can never excuse violence'

Describing the killing as “a different level of horror, a different level of evil,” Majumdar said the brutality of the attack, during which the victim was beaten, his body desecrated and set on fire, highlighted a grave failure of state institutions. He noted with concern that Das’s family reportedly learned about the killing through social media rather than from law enforcement authorities.

Majumdar stressed that the incident was not an isolated case. “Immediately after Sheikh Hasina was ousted, we saw widespread political violence against Awami League supporters, but also against minorities – Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis and Buddhists,” he said. According to him, instead of abating, the violence has persisted over the past year and escalated into extreme acts such as public lynching.

Directing pointed criticism at the interim leadership, Majumdar questioned the authority of the Yunus administration. “Who’s in charge?” he asked, arguing that the government has had ample time to stabilise the situation and ensure equal protection for all citizens but has failed to do so. “If you’re not in charge, then please advise who is, so the world can focus on accountability,” he added.

On the prospect of elections scheduled for February, Majumdar struck a cautious note. He said that without the restoration of the rule of law and a clear acknowledgement of the persecution faced by minorities, free and fair polls would be difficult. He also raised concerns over the ban on the Awami League, calling the current political environment “a very difficult one to have an election.”

Linking the present crisis to what he described as “generational trauma” stemming from the 1971 Liberation War, Majumdar warned that unresolved extremism had continued to fester within state institutions. The recent surge in violence, he said, amounted to a “recreation of what happened half a century ago.”

He also expressed alarm over attacks on media houses, editors and liberal voices, warning that Bangladesh’s secular fabric is under severe strain amid the resurgence of Islamist groups. “This is the test of Bangladesh today,” Majumdar said, adding that fundamentalism had been “contained, not defeated,” and is now re-emerging with dangerous consequences.

Calling for stronger international engagement, Majumdar urged governments, the media and the United Nations to confront the ideological roots of the violence. “Every Bengali – Muslim, Hindu, Christian – will be imperilled if this continues,” he warned.

His remarks come even as the Yunus-led interim government has announced full financial and welfare support for the family of Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched last week following unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy.