From 1983 Assam to Present-Day Bangladesh: BJP Flags a ‘Disturbing Pattern’

The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on what it described as the “communalisation of religion” in the state’s char and chapori areas, alleging the existence of madrasas operating on a “Bangladesh–Pakistan model” and accusing a section of the Muslim population, referred to as “Miya Muslims,” of prioritising religious identity over linguistic and cultural assimilation.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP’s state headquarters earlier on Monday, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, state BJP spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sarmah claimed that a “fanatical mindset” rooted in religion lay behind several violent incidents in Assam’s past as well as recent developments in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Referring to the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, Sarmah drew parallels with incidents that occurred during the Assam Movement of the early 1980s. He cited multiple episodes from 1983 in areas such as Garukhuti, Dhalpur, Dhula, and Laletapu in Tezpur, alleging that Assamese civilians were brutally attacked and killed during that period.

“These incidents, whether in Assam during the Assam Movement or in present-day Bangladesh, reflect the same mindset—religious aggression aimed at dominance,” Sarmah alleged, asserting that religion was placed above language, culture, or regional identity by the group he referred to as “Miya Muslims.”

The BJP spokesperson further claimed that after achieving “political dominance through population growth,” such groups allegedly resort to violence against people of other faiths. He also alleged that calling people of different beliefs “kafirs” and targeting them had become “normalised” in certain ideological frameworks.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s socio-cultural context, Sarmah said that while both Hindus and Muslims in Bangladesh share the Bangla language and Bengali culture, religious differences have allegedly been used to justify atrocities and forced conversions. The murder of Dipu Chandra Das, he claimed, was “one example” of this trend.

During the briefing, BJP panelists Priyanka Tamuli and Gitarth Bora were also present.

The BJP also raised concerns about the role of religious educational institutions. Citing international media reports, Sarmah claimed that extremist organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami and over one lakh Qawmi madrasas were influencing the current situation in Bangladesh. He alleged that such institutions were “producing elements hostile to human civilisation.”

Extending the allegation to Assam, Sarmah claimed that hundreds of Qawmi madrasas had been “secretly established” in the state’s char and chapori regions. He alleged that their curriculum closely resembled that of madrasas associated with Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh and even extremist networks in Pakistan, asserting that they function strictly under Sharia law.

“These madrasas are no different in ideology,” Sarmah alleged, calling for closer scrutiny of their operations.

The BJP’s statements come amid heightened political rhetoric around identity, migration, and religious institutions in Assam. No independent verification of the allegations was presented at the press conference, and the party did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate its claims.

Meanwhile, protests were held in Pandu area of Guwahati on Tuesday evening condemning the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. Demonstrators gathered along the Pandu Port connecting road, paid tribute to the deceased Hindu youth, and staged a protest against the incident.

During the protest, participants burned the Bangladesh national flag and images of Muhammad Yunus, expressing anger over what they described as continued atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Protesters warned Bangladesh against the recurrence of such incidents and demanded accountability.

Also Read: Ten Arrested in Connection with Lynching of Hindu Youth in Bangladesh's Mymensingh