Bangladesh’s Rising Intolerance: Islamist Group Targets Minorities, Baul Artists in Fresh Attacks.

Extremist Islamist Group in Bangladesh Wreaks Havoc: After a Series of Attacks on Hindus, Durga Puja Pandals, and More, Now Baul Artists Are Targeted.

Sankirtan Das | HENB | Dhaka | Nov 27, 2025:: In the land of Lalan Fakir, a spiritual leader and iconic Baul figure, members of the Baul order are being targeted by Islamic fundamentalists, further widening the divide between Hindus and Muslims. In a recent instance of violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Baul supporters were attacked by members of the Islamist group Towhidi Janata, linked to several attacks on Hindus and other minorities.

According to a report by Dhaka Tribune, Baul supporters had organized a protest rally in Manikgang,   Thakurgaon, and Khulna to condemn the recent attacks on Baul performers and demand the release of Baul leader Abul Sarkar, detained for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during a folk performance. However, the rally was confronted by members of Towhidi Janata, leading to a clash that left two people injured. Additional police personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.

The incident in Thakurgaon followed a similar attack on Baul supporters in Manikganj on November 23. Several political parties and human rights organizations have demanded the arrest of those responsible for the attacks and called for Abul Sarkar’s release.

In Khulna, 15 persons were injured in the Islamist attacks on Khulna human chain demanding Baul Abul Sarkar’s release.

“This disorder in the name of Towhidi Janata is not part of the Prophet’s Sunnah,” said Baul supporter Sohel Rana. In response, Towhidi Janata member Al-Amin said, “If someone speaks against Allah, we will respond. Those who try to destroy Islam in my country will not be allowed to do so.”

Islamist groups like Towhidi Janata and Jamaat-e-Islami have perpetrated attacks on minority Hindus, their places of worship including Durga Puja festivals, and business establishments, subjecting them to brutalization, including rape, abduction, murder, arson, and ransom demands. This violence has persisted across different regimes in Bangladesh, including the BNP and Awami League governments, and continues under the interim Yunus government.

About Towhidi Janata

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has instructed authorities to arrest those who attacked Baul supporters in Manikganj and Thakurgaon. The radical Islamist group has been involved in several attacks against the Hindu community, including disrupting Durga Puja celebrations and engaging in violent clashes with the police. The group was also believed to be responsible for attacking shrines across the country after the anti-government riots last year led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.

Why this attack?

The Baul school of thought promotes cultural unity among Hindus and Muslims through its inclusive philosophy. However, fundamentalist Islamic groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamat-e-Islami oppose this ideology. The Baul community, consisting of both Hindu and Muslim disciples of Lalan Fakir and other prominent Baul figures, has been a symbol of cultural harmony in Bengal. Influential figures like Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam drew inspiration from Lalan Fakir and Baul culture, promoting unity between Hindus and Muslims – a concept opposed by Islamist groups.

Hardcore Islamic fundamentalists, who reject the idea of making of idols, prayer in temples, tombs, and mausoleums, have been targeting both Hindu temples and Muslim shrines. Following the anti-government riots that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster last year, Towhidi Janata was reportedly behind attacks on multiple shrines nationwide. The group’s extremist ideology was further evident in January when they vandalized a sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner’s office.

According to The Daily Star, the government has ordered the arrest of those involved in the attacks on Bauls. However, this appears to be a face-saving measure by the Yunus government, which has crossed all limits in terms of governance and peacekeeping.

Dhaka Tribune editor Reaz Ahmad condemned such attacks on religious and cultural minorities in Bangladesh in his article, “Intolerance Grows Louder Amid the State’s Silence“.

The rising jihadi intolerance in Bangladesh poses an existential threat to minority communities, making it a far more alarming issue sparking grave concern.

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_Inputs from NDTV, Dhaka Tribune and The Daily Star.