Bangladeshi Christians living in fear following elections

Christians in Bangladesh are increasingly becoming the targets of sectarian attacks, particularly in areas dominated by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami.

In February, the country had its first elections since the deposition of Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Hasina ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, and while her administration was characterized by increasing authoritarianism and allegations of corruption and cronyism, she was also credited with taking a zero-tolerance approach to Islamism.

Since her fall, both Christians and Hindus have reported a rise in attacks, particularly against those who have converted from Islam.

The election was won by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), broadly representing the status quo. Their main opposition is a coalition of Islamist parties known as Jamaat-e-Islami. Although defeated in the election, Jamaat-e-Islami still managed to claim just under a third of the vote.

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