Minority Rights under Siege: A Bangladesh Snapshot with Global Comparison
✍️ By Suryavanshi IAS | GS Paper II – Polity & International Affairs | 10 July 2025
🔴 Backdrop: Rising Attacks in Bangladesh
In a deeply disturbing development, the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddho Christian Oikyo Parishad, the largest minority rights organisation in the country, has reported 258 incidents of violence against minority religious communities in just the first half of 2025.
At a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka, the organisation accused the interim government under Prof. Mohammed Yunus of failing to act. The report detailed:
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20 cases of rape
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59 attacks on places of worship
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12 attacks on Adivasi communities
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2442 incidents of violence since August 2024
Despite initial denial, the government was forced to acknowledge the violence on December 10, 2024, under heavy public pressure. As per the Parishad, 70 individuals are now under arrest in 88 cases—but accountability remains weak.
📜 UPSC Syllabus Connection
Relevant for:
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GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice
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GS Paper II: India and its Neighbourhood – Relations
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GS Paper I (Essay): Role of civil society, communalism, secularism, regionalism
🛡️ Understanding Minority Rights: A Constitutional and Global Comparison
| Country | Legal Framework for Minority Rights | Implementation & Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| India | - Article 29, 30 (Cultural & Educational Rights) - Article 25–28 (Freedom of Religion) | - Communal tensions persist - Positive state actions like scholarships, NCMEI |
| Bangladesh | - Constitution guarantees secularism and equality under Article 28 and 41 | - Reality contradicts legal protection - Frequent communal targeting |
| USA | - Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment) - Civil Rights Act 1964 | - Rise of hate crimes post 2016 - Black Lives Matter as civil response |
| UK | - Equality Act 2010 - Human Rights Act 1998 | - Islamophobia and racial profiling issues |
| Pakistan | - Article 20 (Freedom of religion) - Blasphemy laws often misused | - Hindus, Christians often targeted - Legal framework insufficient |
| France | - Laïcité (Strict secularism) - 1905 Law on Separation of Church and State | - Ban on religious symbols disproportionately affects minorities (esp. Muslims) |
🌐 International Instruments on Minority Rights
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UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18)
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International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
❝ Bangladesh is party to these treaties but implementation is weak. ❞
🧭 What Can India and the World Do?
🔹 Diplomatic Pressure:
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India, as a secular democracy, must raise this in the SAARC and UN Human Rights Council forums.
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Engage through Track II diplomacy and civil society partnerships.
🔹 Support Civil Society:
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Collaborations with human rights NGOs like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch can spotlight these issues.
🔹 Push for Regional Human Rights Mechanism:
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Unlike Europe and Africa, South Asia lacks a formal regional human rights mechanism.
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India can lead a coalition to build one.
🔹 Humanitarian Monitoring Missions:
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UN or OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) can be urged to send fact-finding teams.
🧩 UPSC Mains Practice Questions
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GS Paper II: “Minority rights are constitutional promises, but implementation remains fragmented.” Discuss with reference to India and its neighbourhood.
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GS Paper I (Essay): “Secularism in South Asia: Between Constitution and Reality.”
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GS Paper II: Discuss the role of international organisations in safeguarding minority rights in developing democracies.
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🔚 Conclusion
The violence in Bangladesh is not just a domestic issue—it reflects the fragile state of minority rights in the region. For a UPSC aspirant, understanding the constitutional frameworks, international obligations, and India’s diplomatic role is crucial for both Prelims and Mains. The time has come for South Asia to act collectively to uphold its shared heritage of tolerance and diversity.
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