2024-08-13 20:03:47
Dhaka: The apex body of Hindus in Bangladesh said on Tuesday that the minority Hindu community has faced attacks and threats at 278 places in 48 districts after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5. It termed it an attack on Hinduism. Members of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance (BNHGA) pointed to a rise in attacks in recent days and said that we also have rights in this country, we were born here. The minority Hindu population was targeted and their properties were looted and many temples were destroyed in the violence that continued for several days after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina left the country and went to India on August 5.
Frequent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
The BNHGA press conference came on the same day when Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus met members of the Hindu community at the famous Dhakeshwari temple here and urged people to “have patience” before forming an opinion about his government. Yunus took charge as the chief adviser of the interim government on August 8. “Due to the changing political scenario, incidents of attack on the Hindu community, looting, arson, land grabbing and threats to leave the country are happening frequently,” BNHGA spokesperson and executive secretary Palash Kanti Dey said. “This is not just an attack on individuals but an attack on the Hindu religion,” he alleged at a press conference here.
Attacks on Hindus at 278 places
“As of Monday, there have been incidents of attacks and threats against the Hindu community at 278 places in 48 districts. We have conveyed our concerns to Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, who has assured us that these issues will be raised in the next cabinet meeting,” Dey said, as quoted by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper. The spokesperson said that BNHGA had put forward its demands before various political parties in the last 24 years, but they were not met. He said, “Now we hope that the interim government will pay attention to our old demands. Apart from this, we support the ongoing nationwide movement led by our students.”
Why are Hindus attacked in Bangladesh
BNHGA president Prabhas Chandra Roy expressed grief over the repeated violence against the Hindu community during political changes and said, “Whenever the government changes, the Hindus are the first to be attacked.” He said, “Earlier such incidents were less, but recently they have increased. We want to live in this country with security. We were born here and we have rights in this country.”
Hindu organizations demanded investigation into the attacks
This press conference was called by BNHGA a day after it presented seven demands to the government. BNHGA has demanded the government to conduct a judicial inquiry into the recent attacks on Hindu communities, establish a Minority Protection Act and Commission, and renovate temples and houses at public expense. According to the Dhaka Tribune report, the organization has also demanded a speedy trial for the culprits and making the investigation report public, releasing a report on the mistreatment of minorities since 2000, a three-day holiday during Durga Puja and the establishment of a minority ministry.