The interim government leader has denounced the atrocities as “heinous.”
Bangladesh has seen protests sparked by communal violence following the resignation of the former Prime Minister and the swearing-in of an interim government.
Sheikh Hasina stepped down last Monday and left for India after weeks of nationwide student protests against a quota system for government jobs, which was criticized for favoring those connected to Hasina’s Awami League party.
The peaceful protests escalated into violence, resulting in over 400 deaths. An interim government took office on Thursday with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammad Yunus, known for his work in microcredit and microfinance, as the chief advisor, a position equivalent to prime minister.
Reports from Bangladeshi and Indian media indicate that dozens of Hindus have been injured in attacks on their homes and businesses since Hasina’s departure. Hindus constitute about 9% of Bangladesh’s population, a predominantly Muslim nation. The Hindu community has traditionally supported Sheikh Hasina’s largely secular Awami League party, which has cultivated close ties with New Delhi in the past decade.
Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of people participated in rallies in Dhaka and Chittagong, the two largest cities, demanding the safety of Hindus and accountability for those who attacked them, local media reported. The protesters called for the allocation of 10% of parliamentary seats for minorities and the implementation of a minority protection law.
Yunus has condemned the attacks on Hindus, calling them “heinous.” He urged students at the forefront of the protests to protect Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm. On Sunday, the interim cabinet, in its first official statement, expressed “grave concern” over attacks on religious minorities in some areas.
Similar protests have taken place in neighboring India, where Hindus are the majority. New Delhi has also established mechanisms to monitor alleged attacks against Hindus and the situation along the 4,000km border with Bangladesh. Amidst the escalating violence, Indian security forces have stopped dozens of people from crossing the border.
While congratulating Yunus on his appointment as the interim government leader, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also urged the protection of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Protests have also been held in the US to denounce the alleged atrocities. On Sunday, approximately 300 Indian Americans and Bangladeshi-origin Hindus gathered at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston to protest. On Friday, a large number of people protested outside the White House in Washington, demanding justice for minorities in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, several outlets in Bangladesh have suggested that some social media clips purporting to show violence against Hindus were either taken out of context or completely ‘false’ and were amplified by the Indian media. Prothom Alo newspaper on Sunday reported, citing a few examples, that some cases of alleged assaults on the Hindu community highlighted by Indian media were false.
According to Bangladeshi media, since the government’s fall on August 5, the police have disappeared from the streets, creating a law-and-order vacuum, especially in the capital city Dhaka, where students were seen directing traffic. An AFP report noted that police had pledged not to return to work until their safety on duty was guaranteed after 42 officers were killed during the protests. However, since Monday, police have resumed patrols of the capital.
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