The religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh reportedly feel more secure under the current interim government than during the tenure of the Awami League, according to a survey conducted by Voice of America (VOA). This finding was highlighted in a VOA Bangla report published on Friday.
The survey, conducted in late October, revealed that 64.1% of respondents believe that the interim government is providing better security to minorities compared to the Awami League-led administration. Only 15.3% of respondents felt that the current government offers worse security, while 17.9% think the situation remains unchanged.
The survey involved 1,000 respondents selected to reflect Bangladesh’s demographic diversity. Equal numbers of men and women participated, 92.7% identifying as Muslim. Over half of the participants were under 34 years old, and around one-quarter were urban residents.
Perceptions Vary Between Religious Groups
The survey also uncovered differences in perceptions of security between Muslim and non-Muslim respondents. Among Muslim participants, only 13.9% believed the security situation for minorities had worsened under the interim government. In contrast, 33.9% of religious minority respondents felt that their security had deteriorated.
Additionally, 66.1% of Muslim respondents said the interim government was providing better security than the Awami League. Among religious minorities, 39.5% agreed with this assessment, indicating that a significant portion of the minority community feels safer now than before.
The survey sheds light on the evolving security dynamics for minorities in Bangladesh, with a majority expressing satisfaction with the interim government’s efforts to ensure their safety.