A recent Voice of America (VOA) survey found that 64.1% of Bangladeshis believe the interim government provides better security for religious and ethnic minorities compared to the previous Awami League administration. However, perceptions of safety differ significantly between Muslims and non-Muslims.
The survey, conducted in late October with 1,000 respondents reflecting Bangladesh's demographics, was published by VOA on Friday.
Only 15.3% of respondents feel the current government offers worse security for minorities, while 17.9% believe the situation has remained the same. The survey asked participants to compare the tenure of the current interim government with that of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's fascist administration.
The 1,000 respondents were selected to represent Bangladesh's demographic makeup, with an equal split of male and female participants, 92.7% of whom were Muslim. Just over half of the respondents were under 34, and around a quarter lived in urban areas.
Key findings include among Muslim respondents 66.1% believe the interim government provides more security for minorities than the Awami League government, with only 13.9% feeling security has worsened.
In contrast, among non-Muslim respondents, 39.5% agree that the interim government offers better security, but 33.9% feel their safety has declined under the current administration.
These contrasting views highlight the differing experiences of Muslims and religious minorities in Bangladesh under the interim government.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
