Will Tarique Rahman’s victory bring relief or more anxiety for Bangladesh’s vulnerable Hindu community

Tarique Rahman is set to become the prime minister to replace the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

• BNP's return to power worries Bangladesh's Hindu minority
• Recent attacks on Hindus spark international concern
• Rahman promises safety for all, but fears and questions remain

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With the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returning to power, attention has shifted to what a government led by Tarique Rahman could mean for the country’s Hindu minority, particularly amid a recent spate of attacks targeting the community.

BNP leader Tarique Rahman is poised to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister at a time when several members of the Hindu community have been killed — some in particularly brutal incidents — drawing international concern over attacks targeting minorities.

Hindus make up a small but significant minority in Bangladesh. There are about 13.1 million Hindus in the country, accounting for roughly 8% of the total population of 170 million. Muslims make up 91%.

Following the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the country witnessed a spate of violent incidents targeting members of the Hindu community, with reports of deaths as well as attacks on homes, temples and businesses.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, an umbrella body representing minority communities, said it had documented over 2,000 cases of communal violence since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina during the mass uprising that month.

According to an official review of police records shared on social media by the interim Muhammad Yunus government, Bangladesh recorded 645 incidents involving minority community members between January and December 2025. Of these, only 71 incidents were classified as communal, while 574 were described as non-communal criminal cases.

Will Rahman’s appointment impact Hindus?

Hindus in Bangladesh have often been perceived as a core support base of Hasina’s Awami League. After she fled the country, sections of violent mobs reportedly targeted members of the community, viewing them as being associated — directly or indirectly — with the Awami League’s rule.

With the BNP, a sense of anxiety has reportedly gripped sections of the Hindu community. A report in The Indian Express ahead of Friday’s results highlighted concerns among Hindus about their security.

After the BNP-led alliance came to power in 2001, there were reports from human rights groups and opposition parties alleging targeted violence against Hindus in the aftermath of the elections.

Critics have accused the BNP of failing to adequately prevent or prosecute attacks during that period. The party, however, has denied that violence was state sponsored. In fact, it has said it supports equal citizenship.

Notably, upon his return, Rahman sought to calm fears within the community in the wake of the attacks, saying, “This country belongs to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians ... We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man and child can leave home and return safely.”

However, questions persist on whether or not attacks will end under his leadership.

Ranjan Karmaker, a human rights activist, told news agency AP recently that Hindus are often perceived as voting en masse for one side, a perception that heightens their vulnerability.

"The individuals involved in this violence are not being brought under the law, nor are they being held accountable through the justice system. It creates the impression that the violence will continue," said Karmaker.

According to him, Hindus are often perceived as voting en masse for one side, a perception that heightens their vulnerability.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs recently accused Bangladesh of minimising what it called a “disturbing pattern of recurring attacks” on Hindus, arguing that incidents of violence were being dismissed as isolated personal or political disputes.

Dhaka, however, rejected the criticism, describing India’s remarks as “systematic attempts” to fuel anti-Bangladesh sentiment and interfere in its internal matters.

As news of the BNP’s sweeping victory emerged, Narendra Modi was among the first regional leaders to extend “warm congratulations” to Tarique Rahman for steering his party to a decisive win in the Bangladesh elections.