In Kishanganj, Bihar, close to the Bangladesh border, migrant families from Bangladesh are anxious about the rising communal violence there. Sukhendu Lal Saha, a retired bank employee, says about 30 of his relatives still live in Feni district of Bangladesh. “Every day we pray for their safety,” he shares with concern. In December 2025 alone, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported 51 incidents of communal violence. Bangladesh holds parliamentary elections on February 12, following protests that removed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party. Human Rights Watch highlights targeted violence against women and religious minorities during this political upheaval. Kishanganj town is just 23 km from Bangladesh, and Nepalgarh locality, where many migrants settled, was named due to its proximity to Nepal. Families including Saha's migrated before the 1965 Indo-Pak war, fleeing religious persecution and property loss in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Migrants were resettled on land parcels with government loans for homes and businesses. Some families left after failing to establish themselves, selling land to locals. Today, land prices have soared, with 1 kattha worth around ₹30 lakh. Ameebala Das, who migrated from Cox’s Bazar in the 1960s, recalls hardships at the border and early years in camps before settling in Nepalgarh in 1964. She last contacted 67 family members across Bangladesh two weeks ago but has had no contact since. Similarly, 85-year-old Pochhapoti Sutradhar, who came from Sylhet, worries for 50 to 60 relatives left behind. She recently spoke to family via video call but has since lost contact. Communication networks are reportedly blocked. Most households in Nepalgarh speak Bengali at home and Hindi outside. Despite struggles, local improvements include concrete lanes and street lights, credited to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Saha grows vegetables on his land and says, “Whatever is happening in Bangladesh is not good. Killing of any human being should not be acceptable.” According to Bangladesh’s 2022 census, Hindus form about 7.95% of the population, totaling 13.13 million, many facing uncertainty amid current violence.