Hindu community members gripped by uncertainty, fear as Bangladesh heads to polls

As Bangladesh heads into a landmark election tomorrow, members of the minority Hindu community say they are gripped by uncertainty and fear. Many express a deep sense of disappointment with both major political forces — the Awami League and the BNP — arguing that neither has adequately safeguarded their interests. The return of Jamaat to mainstream politics has only heightened their concerns.

India Today spoke to several Hindu residents in the capital, Dhaka, to understand their perspectives. Both men and women voiced apprehension about the possibility of a Jamaat-led government, citing fears that it could push for the implementation of Islamic Sharia law in Bangladesh.

While Hindus have had some representation within the Awami League and the BNP in the past, community members say this presence often felt symbolic rather than substantive, with little tangible progress on issues affecting them.