Human Rights Watch (HRW) has revealed in its latest report that groups promoting radical Islam are attacking minorities in Bangladesh, especially the Hindu and Ahmadiya communities.

The report also noted a disturbing pattern of security force abuses in the country since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August last year, targeting Awami League supporters and journalists.

The report is 50 pages long

The 50-page report titled 'After the Monsoon Revolution: A Roadmap for Lasting Security Sector Reform in Bangladesh' makes a number of recommendations to the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, including seeking technical assistance, monitoring and reporting by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN rights experts to ensure lasting reform.

The report noted increasing attacks on Hindu minorities since the fall of the Hasina government, which has generated international concern.

Attack on Hasina's supporters

• Several commentators told HRW that Hindus and other religious minorities were attacked because they traditionally supported his Awami League party.
• The report said there were frequent allegations of violent attacks against Hindus and other minorities and that the police had failed to ensure security. It cited the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das as a worrying sign for freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
• Das' arrest comes at a time when concerns are growing over attacks on Hindu minorities. The interim government has confirmed that about 88 cases of communal violence were registered between August 5 and October 22 and 70 people were arrested.

Lawyer is not ready to fight the case

Hindu groups say there have been hundreds of incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu businesses, homes and places of worship. The Chittagong Lawyers Association forced its members not to represent Das.

The report also said that he had to struggle a lot to get legal help in the court. It quoted a Hindu lawyer as saying, "Lawyers are afraid to present their case in the court because they get threats of violence from the mob. We all have to worry about our families."

Yunus' advice to the government

• The New York-based human rights organisation also suggested that the interim government should immediately ensure that no one is arbitrarily or otherwise unlawfully detained.
• According to the report, between August 6 and September 25, Bangladesh Police filed cases against 92,486 people, most of them related to murder. Nearly 400 former ministers, members of parliament and other Awami League officials have been named in more than 1,170 cases.

200 cases registered against Haseena

More than 200 cases have been filed against Sheikh Hasina. As of November, authorities in Dhaka have filed murder charges against at least 140 journalists in connection with their reporting on the student revolution and revoked more than 150 press accreditations required to attend official events, the report said.

HRW advised the interim government in Bangladesh to seek a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council to create a mechanism to ensure a lasting transition. It said the report is based on extensive research and documentation in Bangladesh, as well as recent interviews with human rights activists, members of the interim government, and current and former law enforcement and military officials.