Vandalized statue of a Hindu Deity in a temple in Banshkhali, Chittagong, Bangladesh. During the period from February 28 to March 6, 2013, a series of disturbing events unfolded, resulting in the desecration of over 40 temples, looting of Hindu properties, and the destruction of houses and shops belonging to the Hindu community. The violence was witnessed in various districts, including Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Gaibanda, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Barisal, Faridpur, Brahminbaria, Sirajgonj, Jaipurhat, Netrakona, and Feni. The government attributed responsibility for these heinous activities to Jamaat-e-Islam, following the conviction of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, (Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islam). Sayeedi had been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty on eight out of the twenty charges, including mass killings, rape, arson, looting, and forcing Hindus to convert to Islam during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

A graffiti of blogger Avijit Roy on the walls of the University of Dhaka. Avijit, a Bangladeshi- American engineer, online activist, writer, and blogger, gained recognition for establishing and managing Mukto-Mona (Free-minded), an Internet blogging community for Bangladeshi freethinkers, rationalists, skeptics, atheists, and humanists. Tragically, he was murdered by machete-wielding assailants on February 26, 2015, due to his books and online writings. In February 2021, five leaders and members of a banned militant outfit were sentenced to death, and another received a life sentence for their involvement in Avijit's brutal murder. Between 2013 and 2016, a series of targeted attacks resulted in the killings and injuries of several secularists and bloggers. Multiple Islamic militant groups claimed responsibility for these murders through social media.


During the Shahbag Movement in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a street vendor sells devil horn headbands. In the background, paintings portray the Pakistani military and war criminals as demons, symbolizing the horrors and atrocities they committed on Bengali people during the 1971 liberation war. On February 5, 2013, during the Shahbag Movement, thousands of Bangladeshi youth took to the streets to seek justice for the war crime collaborators. These collaborators were accused of involvement in heinous crimes such as killings and rape during the liberation war of 1971. Despite their actions, they remained free, with some even holding influential political positions.

On April 26, 2013, in Chittagong, Islamist protestors from Hefazot-e-Islam demanded punishment for the bloggers of the Shahbagh movement after allegations had surfaced that some of these bloggers had defamed Islam. Hefazot-e-Islam gained prominence in 2013 with their 13-point demands, which included advocating for anti-blasphemy laws. According to Hefazot, the Shahbag protestors who sought justice for war criminals were perceived as atheists and anti-Islamic.

Charred remains of a bus vandalized and torched by Hefajat-e-Islam supporters during clashes with police in Dhaka. On April 6, 2013, Hefajat-e-Islam organized a long march from Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, and other districts of Bangladesh to the Motijheel area in Dhaka. On May 5, 2013, the group held a rally in Dhaka to demand the enactment of their 13-point agenda, which included the execution of "atheist bloggers." Police intervened, and clashes broke out. Hefajat-e-Islam supporters vandalized and torched at least 50 vehicles and several buildings during the rally.

Rakib, a 12 years old boy receives treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for burns suffered from petrol bomb attack. Petrol bomb attacks on public transport increased in Bangladesh following the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)'s imposition of a month-long transport blockade on January 5, 2015, in protest of the current government, the Awami League (AL). According to Amnesty International, the attacks resulted in the deaths of over 50 people and serious injuries to hundreds more. More than 1,300 buses and other vehicles had been attacked. The attacks followed the same pattern as the election-related violence of 2014, when more than 500 people were killed.

An activist of the Shahbagh Movement addresses a gathering at Shahbagh Square in Dhaka, protesting against political violence. February 6, 2015.

Xulhaz Mannan, a leading LGBTQ rights activist and editor of Bangladesh's first LGBTQ magazine, Roopban, was murdered along with his friend Tonoy in his apartment on April 25, 2016. Xulhaz had received death threats for his activism. This photo, taken three days before his murder, shows him in the same room with his friend, with part of his face kept out of the frame to protect his anonymity.

A Christian cultural activist and journalist shows the death threat that he received via text message in 2015. Several other activists, secular writers, and bloggers have also received similar death threats from various extremist groups.

Pallbearers carry the body of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, one of the victims of the deadly terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 1, 2016. The attack, which was carried out by five militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), killed 22 civilians, most of whom were foreigners. 

The Bangladesh government has denied the existence of IS in the country, and blamed the attack on home-grown militants.

Sumiti Bala Goswami, a Hindu devotee, breaks down in tears during the evening prayer as her temple is vandalized by a Muslim mob in Comilla, Bangladesh. The mob, representing a local madrasa, attacked the Hindu community in Backhsitarampur village, Comilla on April 27, 2014. The attack was triggered by a rumor that two Hindu youths from the village had posted defamatory comments about Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. The mob vandalized houses and temples, and ransacked everything the villagers had.

Revellers participate in the traditional procession “Mongol Shobhajatra” to mark the Bengali New Year, known as Pohela Boishakh in Dhaka, Bangladesh. April 14, 2015. “Pohela Boishakh” holds profound cultural significance for the Bengali identity, and it is celebrated across the country with fairs, processions, and cultural programs. However, in recent years, there has been debate about whether the procession is compatible with the Islamic identity of the majority of Bangladeshis. On April 9, 2023, a Supreme Court lawyer issued a legal notice to halt the procession, citing the term “Mongol” as having Hindu religious connotations and the showcasing of sculptures of birds, fish, and other creatures as being offensive to the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.

Road divider blocks are strewn across the road as the police leave the scene after a clash between BNP supporters and the police on February 8, 2018, in Dhaka. The clash occurred following the arrest of Khaleda Zia, the chairperson of BNP, in a corruption case.

On December 29, 2018, a fire breaks out at Zaman Tower, a multi-storey building that housed the headquarters of opposition political alliance Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF), at Purana Paltan in Dhaka before the national election. JOF suspected it to be an act of sabotage.

Family members, and relatives of victims of enforced disappearance or secret abduction hold portraits of the missing members during a press conference held to mark the 'International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances' in Dhaka. August 30, 2023.



Awami League supporters celebrate their party's victory in the general election of 2018 at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. January 19, 2019. 
Following the contentious 2014 and 2018 elections, the ruling party, Awami League (AL), recognized for its pro-independence stance, faced substantial criticism.

Students gather at Since Lab Junction in Dhaka, demanding road safety and justice for traffic deaths. August 4, 2018. The protest was part of a series of demonstrations held from July 29 to August 8, 2018, triggered by the deaths of two high- school students struck by a bus operated by an unlicensed driver who was racing to collect passengers on July 29. Initially peaceful protests turned turbulent on August 4, as police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leading to several clashes. During the unrest, unidentified miscreant targeted students, activists and journalists, resulting in severe injuries.

Police disperse pro-BNP (opposition) lawyers with water cannon at Supreme Court premises in Dhaka, as they tried to bring out a procession in support of BNP's “March for Democracy” program ahead of 2014 general elections. December 29, 2013.

Police fire tear gas at environmental activists in Dhaka, as they staged a half-day shutdown to protest the construction of a coal-fired power plant at Rampal, 14 kilometers away from the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. January 26, 2017. The Bangladesh and Indian governments struck a deal in 2016 to build a 1,320- megawatt power plant, which is expected to start operating in 2024. The project raised concerns about the environmental impact among environmental activists, who demanded that the government cancel the Rampal project.

A theater group of young artists and activists performs a demonstration on the eve of March 25, 2017, to commemorate the declaration of the day as Genocide Day. The government has also appealed for international recognition of the day. On March 25, 1971, during the liberation war of Bangladesh, the Pakistani military launched a vicious campaign called "Operation Searchlight," targeting Bengali Hindu minorities, students, academics, and intellectuals.

A one-day-old baby, born in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh but of Rohingya origin, remains officially stateless as a refugee. February 8, 2017. At least 60 Rohingya babies are born every day in the refugee camp as stateless. The Rohingya are Muslim ethnic minority from Rakhine State of Myanmar and considered to be world’s one of the most persecuted communities. Since the 1970s the Myanmar military started a systematic ethnic cleansing campaign against them by killing, rape, arson. The recent military crackdown in 2017 has pushed nearly a million Rohingyas to cross the border of Myanmar in search for a safe refuge in Bangladesh and it has become “world’s fastest growing refugee crisis” according to UN.

Moreover, in recent time, the camp has become a breeding ground for brutality and terror instigated by various militant groups.

Defaced portrait of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh and daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Unknown person(s) scratched out the eyes and ears of the premier’s image. May 23, 2017.

The National Flag of Bangladesh twists and flies in the air at Shahbagh Square. February 10, 2013.