Hinduism in Bangladesh

Hinduism is the second-largest religion in Bangladesh, accounting for about 7.95% of the country's population, approximately 13.1 million people, as per the 2022 census of Bangladesh. Around 21% of the Bangladeshi diaspora follow Hinduism.

Bangladesh has the world's third-largest Hindu population, after India and Nepal. Hinduism is the second-largest religion in 61 of 64 districts in Bangladesh, but there are no Hindu majority districts in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Hindus have faced systemic persecution, experiencing a population decrease from 33% in 1901 to 8% in 2022. In the 1971 Bangladesh genocide, 300,000 to 3 million people were killed (disproportionately Hindus), mass rapes on 300-400,000 women (predominantly Hindu) were perpetrated, as well as Hindu temple desecrations, property destruction, and a fleeing of 8-10 million Hindu refugees to India.

Demographics

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Percentage and population of Hinduism in Bangladesh

! Year

! Percentage (%)

! Hindu Population

! Total population

! Notes

! 1901

| 9,546,240

| 28,927,626

| Eastern Bengal region

! 1911

| 9,939,825

| 31,555,363

| rowspan="4" | Before partition

! 1921

| 10,176,030

| 33,254,607

! 1931

| 10,466,988

| 35,604,189

! 1941

| 11,759,160

| 41,999,221

! 1951

| 9,239,603

| 42,062,462

| rowspan="2" |During Pakistani rule

! 1961

| 9,379,669

| 50,804,914

! 1974

| 9,673,048

| 71,478,543

| rowspan="6" | After independence of Bangladesh

! 1981

| 10,570,245

| 87,120,487

! 1991

| 11,178,866

| 106,315,583

! 2001

| 11,822,581

| 123,151,871

! 2011

| 12,299,940

| 144,043,697

! 2022

| 13,130,109

| 165,158,616

! colspan="100%" |Source: Census of India 1901–1941, Census of East Pakistan 1951–1961, Bangladesh Government Census 1974-2022

thumb|Map of percentage of Bangladeshi Hindus by Upazila or Sub-district (2011 Census)

thumbnail|right|Statue of Hindu Goddess Saraswati, Dhaka University

According to the 2001 Bangladesh census, there were around 11.82 million Hindus in Bangladesh, constituting 9.6% of the population, which at the time was 123.15 million. The Bangladesh 2011 census states that approximately 12.73 million people responded that they were Hindus, constituting 8.54% of the total 149.77 million. While the 2022 Census of Bangladesh put the number of Hindus in Bangladesh at 13.1 million out of a total population of 165.1 million, thus constituting 7.95% of the population. According to a report published by a local daily newspaper in Bangladesh, the Hindu population in the country has reduced by nearly one million between 2001 and 2011. The reduction mainly happened in nine districts: Bhola, Barisal, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Narail, Gopalganj, Rajbari, and Manikganj. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has said that Hindus constitute merely 7% of the population in Bangladesh, as per the latest 2016 figures. Hindus in Bangladesh in the late 2000s were almost evenly distributed in all regions, with large concentrations in Gopalganj, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Jessore, Chittagong, and parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts. In the capital city of Dhaka, Hindus are the second-largest religious community after the Muslims, and the largest concentration of Hindus can be found in and around Shankhari Bazaar in the old city.

In 2013, Amnesty International reported that the rise of more explicitly Islamist political formations in Bangladesh during the 1990s had resulted in many Hindus being intimidated or attacked, and that fairly substantial numbers were leaving the country for India.

In 1901, Hindus constituted 33% of the population of what is now Bangladesh. In 1941, about 28% of the population were Hindus. Their proportion declined to 22% in 1951 after the Partition of India in 1947, as Hindus migrated from East Bengal to India. Wealthy Hindus who migrated lost their land and assets through the East Bengal Evacuees Act. Poor and middle-class Hindus who were left behind were targets of discriminatory new laws. At the outbreak of the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the Defense of Pakistan Ordinance, and later the Enemy (Custody and Registration) Order II, labeled Hindus as the "enemy" and expropriated their property. The 1974 census of Bangladesh showed that the population of Hindus had fallen to 13.5%. Even after independence, the Hindus were branded "Indian stooges" and untrustworthy citizens.

Hinduism by districts

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Hindu Population across districts of Bangladesh (2022)

! District

! Hindu population

! Total population

! Percentage (%)

|Barguna

|69,492

|1,010,531

|Barisal

|275,263

|2,570,446

|Bhola

|55,535

|1,932,518

|Jhalokati

|61,352

|661,160

|Patuakhali

|107,553

|1,727,254

|Pirojpur

|180,982

|1,198,195

|Bandarban

|16,501

|481,106

|Brahmanbaria

|220,960

|3,306,563

|Chandpur

|146,524

|2,635,748

|Chattogram

|982,604

|9,169,465

|Cumilla

|269,214

|6,212,216

|Cox's Bazar

|108,166

|2,823,268

|Feni

|91,160

|1,648,896

|Khagrachhari

|119,706

|714,119

|Lakshmipur

|61,846

|1,937,948

|Noakhali

|147,154

|3,625,442

|Rangamati

|33,112

|647,586

|Dhaka

|672,269

|14,734,701

|Faridpur

|182,561

|2,162,879

|Gazipur

|263,490

|5,263,450

|Gopalganj

|348,974

|1,295,057

|Kishoreganj

|158,778

|3,267,626

|Madaripur

|144,904

|1,293,027

|Manikganj

|138,875

|1,558,025

|Munshiganj

|122,238

|1,625,416

|Narayanganj

|144,105

|3,909,138

|Narsingdi

|184,309

|2,224,944

|Rajbari

|110,569

|1,189,818

|Shariatpur

|42,724

|1,294,562

|Tangail

|257,351

|4,037,608

|Bagerhat

|264,229

|1,613,076

|Chuadanga

|27,804

|1,234,054

|Jessore

|313,592

|3,076,144

|Jhenaidah

|168,444

|2,005,849

|Khulna

|542,417

|2,613,385

|Kushtia

|58,771

|2,149,692

|Magura

|162,138

|1,033,115

|Meherpur

|8,497

|705,356

|Narail

|124,465

|788,671

|Satkhira

|337,145

|2,196,582

|Jamalpur

|39,827

|2,499,738

|Mymensingh

|202,440

|5,899,005

|Netrokona

|202,648

|2,324,853

|Sherpur

|36,827

|1,501,853

|Bogra

|216,657

|3,734,297

|Chapai Nawabganj

|72,178

|1,835,528

|Joypurhat

|87,595

|956,431

|Naogaon

|321,341

|2,784,599

|Natore

|107,124

|1,859,922

|Pabna

|74,265

|2,909,624

|Rajshahi

|133,514

|2,915,009

|Sirajganj

|146,523

|3,357,706

|Dinajpur

|648,326

|3,315,236

|Gaibandha

|177,593

|2,562,233

|Kurigram

|143,381

|2,329,160

|Lalmonirhat

|185,322

|1,428,406

|Nilphamari

|327,333

|2,092,568

|Panchagarh

|184,951

|1,179,843

|Rangpur

|283,964

|3,169,614

|Thakurgaon

|339,580

|1,533,895

|Habiganj

|374,104

|2,358,886

|Maulvibazar

|519,263

|2,123,447

|Sunamganj

|315,044

|2,695,496

|Sylhet

|282,904

|3,857,123

Hinduism by upazilas

According to the 2022 census, there are 43 upazilas with a Hindu percentage above 20%. They are listed below according to percentage.

thumb|Percentage of Hindus by Upazila according to the 2022 Census

Dacope Upazila is the only Hindu majority Upazila in Bangladesh.

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right hover-highlight"

! Upazila

! District

! Percentage of Hinduism

|Dacope Upazila

|Khulna District

|align=center| 54.44%

|Kotalipara Upazila

|Gopalganj District

|align=center| 47.10%

|Shalla Upazila

|Sunamganj District

|align=center| 44.19%

|Kaharole Upazila

|Dinajpur District

|align=center| 43.59%

|Agailjhara Upazila

|Barishal District

|align=center| 40.47%

|Sreemangal Upazila

|Moulvibazar District

|align=center| 39.49%

|Bochaganj Upazila

|Dinajpur District

|align=center| 38.07%

|Dumuria Upazila

|Khulna District

|align=center| 34.72%

|Khaliajuri Upazila

|Netrokona District

|align=center| 33.69%

|Juri Upazila

|Moulvibazar District

|align=center| 33.40%

|Rajoir Upazila

|Madaripur District

|align=center| 30.85%

|Chitalmari Upazila

|Bagerhat District

|align=center| 30.23%

|Kamalganj Upazila

|Moulvibazar District

|align=center| 30.22%

|Paikgachha Upazila

|Khulna District

|align=center| 28.99%

|Nazirpur Upazila

|Pirojpur District

|align=center| 28.43%

|Pirganj Upazila

|Thakurgaon District

|align=center| 28.31%

|Batiaghata Upazila

|Khulna District

|align=center| 27.56%

|Birganj Upazila

|Dinajpur District

|align=center| 27.47%

|Khansama Upazila

|Dinajpur District

|align=center| 27.12%

|Tungipara Upazila

|Gopalganj District

|align=center| 26.26%

|Derai Upazila

|Sunamganj District

|align=center| 25.44%

|Birol Upazila

|Dinajpur District

|align=center| 25.20%

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila

|Khagrachhari District

|align=center| 24.76%

|Atwari Upazila

|Panchagarh District

|align=center| 24.72%

|Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila

|Thakurgaon District

|align=center| 24.38%

|Dasar Upazila

|Madaripur District

|align=center| 24.24%

|Debiganj Upazila

|Panchagarh District

|align=center| 24.17%

|Shalikha Upazila

|Magura District

|align=center| 23.99%

|Ajmiriganj Upazila

|Habiganj District

|align=center| 23.98%

|Ujirpur Upazila

|Barishal District

|align=center| 23.46%

|Narail Sadar Upazila

|Narail District

|align=center| 23.37%

|Gopalganj Sadar Upazila

|Gopalganj District

|align=center| 23.41%

|Tala Upazila

|Satkhira District

|align=center| 23.36%

|Ashashuni Upazila

|Satkhira District

|align=center| 23.36%

|Muksudpur Upazila

|Gopalganj District

|align=center| 23.07%

|Chirirbandar Upazila

|Dinajpur District

|align=center| 22.92%

|Guimara Upazila

|Khagrachhari District

|align=center| 22.51%

|Boda Upazila

|Panchagarh District

|align=center| 22.52%

|Madhyanagar Upazila

|Sunamganj District

|align=center| 22.07%

|Rajnagar Upazila

|Moulvibazar District

|align=center| 21.95%

|Panchhari Upazila

|Khagrachhari District

|align=center| 21.46%

|Fakirhat Upazila

|Bagerhat District

|align=center| 20.83%

|Ranishankail Upazila

|Thakurgaon District

|align=center| 20.58%

Hindu majority unions

There are 80 hindu majority union in Bangladesh out of 4,579.

{| class="wikitable"

|+Hindu majority Union

! District

! Upazila

! Unions

|rowspan=5|Gopalganj District(15)

|Kotalipara Upazila(6)

|1.Kalabari Union 2.Kandi Union 3.Radhaganj Union 4.Ramshil Union 5.Sadullapur Union 6.Suagram Union

|Muksudpur Upazila(3)

|1.Jalirpar Union 2.Kasalia Union 3.Ujani Union

|Gopalganj Sadar Upazila(3)

|1.Boultali Union 2.Sahapur Union 3.Satpar Union

|Kashiani Upazila(2)

|1.Hatiara Union 2.Singa Union

|Tungipara Upazila(1)

|1.Gopalpur Union

|rowspan=4|Khulna District(13)

|Dacope Upazila(6)

|1.Bajua Union 2.Banishanta Union 3.Dacope Union 4.Kailashganj Union 5.Loudob Union 6.Tildanga Union

|Dumuria Upazila(3)

|1.Bhandarpara Union 2.Magurkhali Union 3.Ragunathpur Union

|Batiaghata Upazila(2)

|1.Batiaghata Union 2 Gangarampur Union

|Paikgachha Upazila(2)

|1.Deluti Union 2.Lata Union

|rowspan=4|Dinajpur District(8)

|Kaharole Upazila(4)

|1.Dabar Union 2.Ramchandrapur Union 3.Rasulpur Union 4.Targaon Union

|Biral Upazila(2)

|1.Mangalpur Union 2.Rajarampur Union

|Birganj Upazila(1)

|1.Mohammadpur union

|Bochaganj Upazila(1)

|1.Ishania Union

|rowspan=3|Moulvibazar District(7)

|Juri Upazila(3)

|1.Fultala Union 2.Pashchim Juri Union 3.Purba Juri Union

|Sreemangal Upazila(3)

|1.Kalighat Union 2.Rajghat Union 3.Satgaon Union

|Kamalganj Upazila(1)

|1.Madhabpur Union

|rowspan=2|Madaripur District(5)

|Rajoir Upazila(4)

|1.Amgram Union 2.Kadambari Union 3.Khalia Union 4.Rajoir Union

|Dasar Upazila(1)

|1.Nabagram Union

|rowspan=3|Thakurgaon District(4)

|Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila(2)

|1.Akcha Union 2.Dholarhat Union

|Baliadangi Upazila(1)

|1.Dhantala Union

|Pirganj Upazila(1)

|1.Daulatpur Union

|rowspan=2|Barishal District(4)

|Agailjhara Upazila(2)

|1.Bakal Union 2.Rajihar Union

|Wazirpur Upazila(2)

|1.Harta Union 2.Jalla Union

|rowspan=3|Bagerhat District(3)

|Chitalmari Upazila(1)

|1.Char Baniari Union

|Fakirhat Upazila(1)

|1.Mulghar Union

|Rampal Upazila(1)

|1.Hurka Union

|rowspan=3|Khagrachhari District(3)

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila(1)

|1.Bhaibonchhara Union

|Matiranga Upazila(1)

|1.Matiranga Union

|Guimara Upazila(1)

|1.Guimara Union

|rowspan=2|Chattogram District(3)

|Patiya Upazila(2)

|1.Dhalghat Union 2.Kelishahar Union

|Boalkhali Upazila(1)

|1.Amuchia Union

|rowspan=2|Jessore District(3)

|Manirampur Upazila(2)

|1.Haridaskati Union 2.Kultia union

|Abhaynagar Upazila(1)

|1.Sundoli Union

|rowspan=2|Kishoreganj District(2)

|Austagram Upazila(1)

|1.Kalma Union

|Itna Upazila(1)

|1.Dhanpur Union

|rowspan=2|Pirojpur District(2)

|Nazirpur Upazila(1)

|1.Dirgha Union

|Nesarabad Upazila(1)

|1.Daihari Union

|Sunamganj District(2)

|Sullah Upazila(2)

|1.Bahara Union 2.Habibpur Union

|Dhaka District(1)

|Nawabganj Upazila(1)

|1.Jantrail Union

|Habiganj District(1)

|Ajmiriganj Upazila(1)

|1.Badalpur union

|Magura District(1)

|Magura Sadar Upazila(1)

|1.Atharokhada Union

|Narail District(1)

|Narail Sadar Upazila(1)

|1.Mulia Union

|Netrokona District(1)

|Khaliajuri Upazila(1)

|1.Nagar Union

|Rajbari District(1)

|Baliakandi Upazila(1)

|1.Jangal Union