The Sri Lanka–Bangladesh Buddhist Solidarity Front has warned that Buddhist minorities and other religious communities in Bangladesh are facing severe repression and violence, calling on Buddhists worldwide to unite in protecting their rights—particularly those of indigenous Buddhists in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Addressing a media briefing held in Kandy on January 17, the Front’s Propaganda Secretary, Shastrava scholar and Tripitaka scholar, Venerable Kavissara Thero of Nuwara Eliya, stated that the future of Buddhist indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is under serious threat.
A history of continued oppression
Venerable Kavissara Thero emphasized that attacks on Buddhists in Bangladesh are not a recent phenomenon. He recalled the 2012 incidents in which extremists destroyed 19 Buddhist temples and around 100 Buddhist homes. He further noted that political instability following the collapse of the Awami League government in August 2024 has led to an escalation of violence against the Buddhist community.
Alarming statistics reveal the scale of violence
According to the latest reports, 2,442 incidents of violence against religious minorities were recorded in Bangladesh during 2024 and 2025.
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Attacks on temples: In the first three months of 2025 alone, 25 Buddhist temples were attacked.
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Killings and looting: Four Buddhist tribal members have been killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, while looting and arson targeting Buddhist homes continue, often under the guise of political retaliation.
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Human rights violations: Murders, sexual violence, and the forced acquisition of Buddhist-owned land are reportedly increasing, Venerable Kavissara Thero said.
Call for unity to protect civil rights
The Thero stressed that Buddhists are not the only community affected, noting that Hindus and Christians in Bangladesh are also facing similar threats. He underscored the urgent need for a united effort to safeguard the civil and human rights of all religious minorities.
Appeal to the Maha Sangha and the international community
The Sri Lanka–Bangladesh Buddhist Solidarity Front has called upon the Mahanayake Theros of Sri Lanka, the entire Maha Sangha, and Buddhists across the world to take the lead in protecting Bangladesh’s Buddhist heritage and the right to life of its Buddhist population.
“Bangladesh holds historic significance for Sri Lankan Buddhists. At a time when the lives of minority Buddhists there are under threat, it is our collective responsibility to raise our voices in their defense,” Venerable Kavissara Thero of Nuwara Eliya said in concluding his statement.
