General Information on Hinduism in Bangladesh
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD0754 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, General Information on Hinduism in Bangladesh, 1 May 1989, BGD0754, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aca880.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Hindus, the largest religious minority in Bangladesh, have been steadily decreasing since 1947. At present, Hindus are estimated to compose nearly 10 percent of the population, down from 20 percent in 1961.
On November 7, 1946, a slaughter of Hindus by Moslems took place in Noahkali (now part of Bangladesh); and an exodus of Hindus, from what was then East Pakistan into India, took place after violence erupted following the partition of British India into the independent nations of Pakistan and India in August 1947. About 3,300,000 Hindus left the country, leaving a Hindu population of 10 million.
Hindus are concentrated in areas bordering India, where they constitute nearly 25 percent of the population. The majority of Hindus are low caste, Namashudras, who engage in menial duties which are considered to be socially undesirable.
On March 13, 1988, President Ershad announced the proposal of a constitutional amendment incorporating Islam as the state religion, and reportedly said that Bangladesh should "incorporate Islam's tenets and the ideals of the beloved Prophet into day-to-day life". On June 7, 1988, the amendment was accepted and Islam was declared the state religion.
Despite the official policy of assuring freedom of religion, religious minorities face difficulties in Bangladesh. There have been incidents of harassment and vandalism against minority religious groups, although there is no direct indication of government involvement. Last year, a Hindu temple was ransacked and two churches were burned by a mob in Narayanganj. Since independence, many Hindus have lost or have had difficulty in retaining their property as a result of the reported prejudicial administration of vested property laws.
Copies of the following documents are attached:
-Country Reports on Human Rights Practice for 1988: Bangladesh, (U.S. Department of State, February 1989), pp. 1299-1303.
-Encyclopedia of the Third World: Bangladesh, (New York: Facts on File, 1988), p. 142.
