Bangladesh Hindu Attack: After the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina left the country, there was a lot of violence against minorities, especially Hindus, in the neighboring country. Many Hindus lost their lives in these attacks. However, in the interim government formed under the leadership of Nobel Prize winner Mohammad Yunus, attacks on Hindu homes and places of worship have reduced significantly in the last week, but still sporadic incidents of violence are coming to the fore. Meanwhile, now the violent people have their eyes on the government jobs of Hindus and people are being forced to resign. Because of this, the Hindu community is worried. Hindus are a minority in Bangladesh and their population is 8 percent. After the Supreme Court’s decision regarding reservation, violence spread in Bangladesh and at least 650 people lost their lives. Sheikh Hasina had to resign from the post of Prime Minister and come to India.
Amid the power vacuum, homes, places of worship and businesses belonging to Hindus were attacked in several parts of Bangladesh on August 5. Hindu temples were attacked and vandalised in Dhamrai, Natore in Dhaka, Kalapara in Patuakhali, Shariatpur and Faridpur, while homes were attacked in Jessore, Noakhali, Meherpur, Chandpur and Khulna. Around 40 shops owned by Hindus were vandalised in Dinajpur. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took power on August 8. For three days, the law and order situation had completely collapsed and there were no policemen to protect people. “At that time when there was no government, we were in such a situation that we did not know whom to call if something happened,” said Ashish Kumar Sarkar, assistant professor at Ataikula Madpur Amina Khatun Degree College in Pabna district.
Ashish Kumar further said, “But now various political parties have given us assurances, due to which we are now somewhat reassured. Police are on duty and army personnel are patrolling the streets. We have someone to call on.” Ashish Sarkar said that Hindus are still facing attacks in some places. He believes that some Hindus were attacked because of their association with Hasina’s Awami League party, while some attacks on homes and businesses were carried out with the aim of looting. Sarkar said, “The law and order situation has improved to some extent, but we have not been able to completely overcome our fear.”
Leaders of minority communities met Bangladesh government leader Mohammad Yunus on August 13 to express their concerns about attacks on their homes, businesses and temples. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Yunus to ensure the safety of Hindus and also expressed concern about the safety of Hindus during his Independence Day speech. On Friday, Yunus called PM Modi and assured him of the safety of all minorities in Bangladesh. A Hindu businessman in Dhaka, on condition of anonymity, told our sister newspaper Hindustan Times that he feels safer now than he did a week ago. Hindus are gradually regaining confidence, although they remain worried due to sporadic incidents of violence.
‘Concerns not completely addressed, but there is improvement’ “But I can say there has been a significant improvement, even though our concerns have not been addressed. Every year, Hindus take out processions to celebrate Janmashtami, the festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. This year, the festival is on August 26. If people feel safe, they will join celebratory processions. The police have to create an atmosphere in which people feel safe,” the businessman said. Minority community leaders also said they were concerned despite a decline in reports of attacks on Hindus.
Resignations being forcibly demanded
“We are not in a good situation and our worries are not over yet,” said Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad. He alleged that members of the minorities were being forced to resign from government offices and colleges and members of local government bodies. “The process of forced resignations started on Saturday and is still going on in some places in schools, universities and municipal corporations,” Dasgupta said. He said he received five phone calls about such forced resignations between 12 noon and 3.20 pm on Saturday. However, he refused to give more details. Members of the Christian and Buddhist minorities, on the other hand, said they were not too worried. Drama director Joyanta Rozario said houses of Christians were vandalised in Dinajpur’s Biral area, Rajshahi’s Tanor area and Narayanganj. “Though Bangladesh is going through political instability, I don’t think I should be worried about it right now,” Rozario said.