*Date of Incident:* 12.11.2024

• *Location*: Vendaria Upazila, Pirojpur District, Barishal Division, Bangladesh

• *Victim*: Gautam, a minor boy from a poor Hindu family

*_Details of the Incident:_*

• *Perpetrators:*

*Madrasa* students and *local influential Muslims* involved in the forced religious conversion of Gautam. After Conversion his new name is *Nur Mohammad*.

*Abduction and Coercion:*

° Gautam was *forcibly converted to Islam* and taken from his home by the perpetrators.

• *Emotional Impact on Family:*

° Gautam’s parents, *elderly* and in *poor health,* were devastated by their son’s abduction.

° The boy’s father and mother were tearfully informed by Gautam,  *“_What will happen if we stay in this country? Let’s leave.”_*

• *Parents’ Response:*

° Despite the emotional pressure, the *parents refused to leave their land and home,* citing their property and loans as reasons.

• *Financial Pressure:*

° The boy’s family had some outstanding loans, and the Muslim groups visiting their home used the offer of *loan repayment* to pressure them into agreeing to the conversion.

• *Psychological Pressure:*

° The extremists *repeatedly pressured* the elderly parents to convert as a family, implying that their son could no longer live with them if they refused, stating it was “*haram” (forbidden)* for their son to remain with them unless they converted.

• *Family’s Vulnerability:*

° The elderly parents, both *physically weak*, were indirectly threatened with the loss of their son’s property and inheritance unless they converted.

° The boy’s father, despite his ill health, expressed *willingness* to transfer his property to his son in exchange for his safety and well-being.

*_Key Issues:_*

• *Forced Religious Conversion:* The incident involves the *coercion of a minor boy* into changing his religion against the will of his parents.

• *Exploitation of Poverty:* The family’s financial difficulties, including *outstanding loans,* were exploited as leverage for religious conversion.

• *Threats and Emotional Blackmail:* The family was repeatedly pressured through emotional blackmail and threats about the *boy’s future* and their *family’s wellbeing.*

*_Conclusion:_*

This incident highlights the vulnerability of poor, minority communities to coercion and religious manipulation, particularly when combined with economic pressure. The exploitation of families facing financial hardship, along with *emotional and psychological manipulation,* reflects a disturbing pattern of forced religious conversions in certain regions. Such practices underscore the urgent need for greater legal protections and community support for religious minorities in Bangladesh.

*_Other Detail_*

Boy Forced into Religious Conversion in Pirojpur: Family Threatened with Loss of Son and Property.

Fb Link: https://www.facebook.com/khaled.khan.12/videos/532108803019408