"The violence appears to be driven by a combination of political retaliation and sectarian aggression. Although the exact orchestrators are not explicitly identified, evidence points to mobs associated with opposition factions, including Islamist groups with a history of hostility towards minorities, leading the attacks. These groups have capitalized on the power vacuum following Hasina's departure (on 5 August) to target those linked with her secular government, particularly Hindus, who largely supported the Awami League," stated Gupta, currently residing in the United Kingdom (UK).
He claimed that "although the military has called for cooperation", it has not managed to "provide the necessary security to prevent the targeted attacks on Hindu communities."
A recent report by Gupta documenting widespread violence in the country between 1-10 August showed that that three Hindu women were raped, three men killed and nearly 72 Hindu establishments were torched by mobs within the ten day-period.
Moreover, the report also reveals that increasingly, forced by mobs principals, vice-chancellors, professors and educational staff hailing from the Hindu community had to resign from their positions. At least 22 such instances have been documented in the report during the first ten days of the month.
"The modus operandi involves coordinated attacks by mobs who often act with impunity due to the lack of effective law enforcement. The attacks appear to be both politically and religiously motivated, with the ultimate goal being to intimidate and marginalize the Hindu population, forcing them to either flee or convert, thereby reducing their presence in Bangladesh," he stressed.
"The situation remains volatile, with the interim government struggling to establish control and provide security for all its citizens," the expert concluded.