The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council on Thursday expressed deep concern over the continuation of communal violence across the country in the three months leading up to the 13th parliamentary elections.

In a press release signed by the council’s acting general secretary Monindra Kumar Nath, it was stated that between January 1 and March 31, 2026, a total of 133 communal violence incidents were reported in the media.

These included 25 killings, 4 cases of rape or other violence against women, 35 attacks on temples and looting, and 69 other incidents, including assaults on various indigenous and ethnic communities in the hills and plains.

According to the release, January saw 46 incidents, including 11 killings, 1 rape, 9 temple attacks, 1 attack on ethnic communities, 15 cases of assault, robbery, arson, threats, and looting of homes and businesses, 3 land grab incidents, 1 extortion case, and 5 other incidents.

In February, there were 50 incidents, comprising 8 killings, 1 rape, 15 temple attacks, 1 case of religious desecration, 17 cases of assault, robbery, arson, threats, and looting, 6 land grabs, 1 abduction, and 1 other incident.

March recorded 37 incidents, including 6 killings, 2 cases of rape or sexual harassment, 11 temple attacks, 1 religious desecration, 1 attack on ethnic communities, 7 cases of assault, robbery, arson, threats, and looting, 4 land grabs, and 5 other incidents.

The council noted that it had hoped such attacks would decline following the formation of the BNP-led government. “However, the persistence of these incidents has left minority communities anxious and concerned,” the release said.

The Unity Council called for the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible, compensation for victims, proper medical care for the injured, enactment of minority protection laws, and the establishment of a Minority Ministry and National Minority Commission, among other eight demands.