The revelation that 42 communal attacks took place in January alone, as per the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, is a reminder that while this nation has made great strides when it comes to communal harmony, we remain far from the promise of a Bangladesh where every citizen can live with dignity and safety.

Indeed, as per reports, the organization documented a total of 522 incidents nationwide over the last year - which is 522 incidents too many.

Such attacks are nothing if not assaults on the very foundations of our nation. It is truly disheartening how such heinous acts continue to be perpetrated and result in not only undermining trust within communities but also weakening democracy and betraying the spirit of 1971 and the uprising of 2024.

With elections just days away, we expect the newly elected administration to treat this issue with the urgency it demands. What is required is a decisive crackdown on perpetrators and swift justice for victims. Zero tolerance must be a standard and not just a slogan.

However, the real investment is building a culture of inclusion -- through education, awareness, and reconciliation. Political leaders, civil society, and the media must unite in sending a clear message: Diversity is always a strength and not a threat.

The new administration therefore will have a moral and constitutional obligation to ensure that no citizen is treated as second-class. Every Bangladeshi -- whether Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, or Muslim -- must feel equally at home in this country. Only then will we truly prosper.