A powerful collective of 258 Bangladeshi citizens, including academics, writers, artists and human rights defenders has issued a public call demanding an immediate end to the nationwide violence carried out under the pretext of alleged &ldquo;blasphemy.&rdquo; The appeal comes amid outrage over the arrest of Baul singer Abul Sarkar and the brutal assault on his followers in Manikganj.
In their joint statement, the signatories warned that religious extremism has resurged since last year&rsquo;s protests, emboldening groups that have positioned themselves as self-appointed guardians of Islam. They detailed a disturbing pattern of violence: destruction of over 200 shrines, public declarations branding individuals as apostates, exhuming and burning bodies, forced cutting of Baul and fakir hair, harassment of women, and disruption of cultural events. &ldquo;Annihilating those who hold different beliefs or lifestyles has become their objective,&rdquo; the statement said.
The group strongly criticised the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of failing to curb the violence and instead allowing &ldquo;religious fascism&rdquo; to take root as a political tool. They warned that continued inaction risks deepening democratic frustration, rehabilitating defeated extremist forces, and projecting Bangladesh globally as a state veering toward religious intolerance.
Demanding immediate release of Abul Sarkar, the signatories said the unchecked use of &ldquo;blasphemy&rdquo; accusations has become the primary weapon behind the wave of assaults and arrests. The appeal reflects growing alarm over rising mob violence, targeting of minorities, and indiscriminate detentions under the interim administration.

Bangladesh Citizens Decry Rise in ‘Blasphemy’ Violence

258 citizens warn of escalating attacks, arrests and religious extremism under interim gov

Bangladesh Citizens Decry Rise in ‘Blasphemy’

258 citizens warn of escalating attacks, arrests and religious extremism under interim gov

November 25, 2025 | 10:00 IST