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Bangladeshi Hindus Protest In Dhaka Demanding Protection Amid Escalating Violence

August 10, 2024
The Commune

Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus took to the streets of Dhaka this week to protest a series of targeted attacks and temple vandalisation following the recent downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. The protests, sparked by widespread student demonstrations, saw people marching with signs demanding the protection of minorities and chanting slogans like “Who are we? Bengali, Bengali.”

On 9 August 2024, demonstrators blocked a major intersection in Dhaka, calling for peace and unity with chants of ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna.’ 

Nirmal Rosario, a Hindu Unity Council leader, expressed grave concern, stating, “We are in a desperate situation, forced to guard our homes and temples at night. I have never witnessed anything like this before. We urge the government to restore communal harmony immediately.”

Rosario also called on interim leader Yunus to address the escalating violence and prioritise resolving the crisis.

A statement from the Unity Council added, “As we approach a pivotal moment of victory, we sadly see that certain factions are trying to undermine this progress through unprecedented violence against minority communities.”

The violence that erupted following Hasina’s departure has claimed over 230 lives, bringing the total death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests began in mid-July. Numerous Hindu temples, homes, and businesses have been attacked, with reports of women being assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with Hasina’s Awami League party being killed.

Since the 5th of August, the date of Hasina’s departure, there have been widespread reports of looting and destruction targeting the Hindu community, which makes up around 8% of Bangladesh’s population. In the chaos, a schoolteacher and two Hindu councillors were killed, and an ISKCON temple in Meherpur was vandalised and set ablaze this past week.

In response to the violence, many Hindus have attempted to cross the land border into India, which shares a nearly 4,096 km long border with Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reports that at least 52 of the country’s 64 districts have been affected by the unrest.

The council has called on Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has assumed leadership of an interim government, to ensure the safety and security of minorities. In his inaugural address, Yunus vowed to take strict action against those promoting anarchy.

The Indian government has expressed concern over the situation and is closely monitoring developments. The Ministry of External Affairs has noted ongoing efforts by various groups in Bangladesh to protect minority communities.

In a recent statement by Home Minister Amit Shah also affirmed that “In the wake of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Modi government has constituted a committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there. The committee will be headed by the ADG, Border Security Force, Eastern Command.”

Widespread Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh

On 5 August 2024, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council published a report detailing a series of attacks on Hindu temples, homes, and businesses across the country amid ongoing political unrest. According to the Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus on social media platform X, these assaults occurred within a five-hour window. However, the actual number of incidents might be higher than those listed.

  • Sherpur: The residence of the president of the Sribardi Upazila Youth Unity Council was attacked, vandalised, and looted.
  • Khulna: Multiple properties were targeted, including the homes of Shyamal Kumar Das, Swajan Kumar Das, Biman Bihari Amit, Animesh Sarkar Rinku, and Jayanta Gain. Properties in Darpara, Koyra, were also attacked.
  • Feni: The Durga Temple was attacked, and in Dinajpur, the Fulthala cremation ground was forcibly occupied. Five temples, including the Kali Mandir in Parbatipur, were vandalised, and homes in Setabganj Bochakganj and Dhalla village were looted.
  • Lakshmipur: The house and office of Deepak Saha, leader of the Puja Celebration Council, were attacked and looted. Additionally, homes in Agarupur village and Rauzan, Chattogram, were burned and attacked.
  • Jashore: Three homes in Dhopaidi Palpara village were set on fire, and 22 shops, including Babul Saha’s warehouse, were vandalised in Narikel Bariya, Bagharpara.
  • Satkhira: Shops belonging to minorities in Kolaroa were looted, and the homes of Biswajit Sadhu and Dr. Subrata Ghosh were attacked and burned.
  • Shayestaganj Bazaar, Habiganj: Asit Baran Das’s shop was vandalised and looted. Minority homes in Lohagara, Narail, faced similar violence.
  • Bogra: Several minority shops in Tilpatti and Bargola were vandalised and looted, and Dr Gautam Kumar Mondal’s home in Sahapukur was also targeted.
  • Patuakhali: The Radha Govinda Temple in Kuakata was attacked, and Ananta Mukherjee’s house was vandalised and looted. Similar attacks occurred in Panchagarh’s Sadar.
  • Noakhali: The house of Sahadev Roy in Sonadia, Hatiya, was attacked and looted. Minority homes in Thakurgaon’s Sadar and Pirganj’s cremation temple were also targeted.
  • Jhenaidah: Ongoing violence affected 10 minority families in Chaklapara municipality, with shops in Kotchandpur also attacked.
  • Hathuria, Bera Thana, Pabna: Multiple minority homes were attacked, vandalized, and looted.
  • Nilphamari: Minority homes in Bamunia Union, Domar Upazila, faced attacks, vandalism, and looting, including an attempted attack in Barakali Bari.
  • Shariatpur: The Dhanuka Temple in the Sadar area was vandalized, with nearby minority homes also affected.
  • Lalmonirhat: Amiya Prasad’s house in Panchagram Union was attacked, and in Mymensingh, Shyamal Pal’s home in Ward 32 of Shambhuganj was assaulted.
  • Netrokona: The Ramakrishna Mission and ISKCON temple in the Sadar area were attacked, along with nearby minority homes.
  • Faridganj Upazila, Chandpur: Haripada Das’s house was attacked and looted, and an attempted attack was reported at Ram Doctor’s house in Araihazar, Narayanganj.

Social Media Reveals Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh

Beyond the documented attacks, numerous videos and images circulating on social media have shown assaults on Hindu homes, businesses, and temples in Bangladesh, framed as part of the broader political violence. The authenticity of some of these videos remains unverified.

Among several videos shared on X, including one showing a mob attacking the home of Hindus in Bamunia Palpara, Gabtali Upazila, Bogra District.

Another video depicts a Hindu girl in distress in Mathbaria police station area, Pirojpur district, pleading for help in Bangla.

Additional footage shows the Shani Temple in Navgraha Bari, Chittagong, being set ablaze by rioters.

In Shibpur Upazila, Narsingdi District, a Hindu temple was attacked around 5 PM.

Yudhistir Govinda Das, an ISKCON India spokesperson, reported that an ISKCON center in Meherpur (Khulna division) was burned, including the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi. Fortunately, three devotees residing there managed to escape.

A video from Visegrad 24 shows Islamists surrounding Hindu homes and threatening the occupants.

According to The Daily Star“, a Bangladeshi newspaper, attacks have occurred in 27 districts. The report includes incidents such as the vandalism and looting of homes belonging to Pradip Chandra Roy and Muhin Roy in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, the burning of 12 Hindu houses in Hatibandha upazila’s Purbo Sardubi village, and the ransacking of several Hindu homes in Bandhavgarh’s Sadar upazila. Other attacks include ten Hindu houses in Dinajpur, a temple in Railbazarhat, and three homes in Khansama upazila. In Khulna, Oikya Parishad leaders’ residences were attacked, while Aditri Adhikary’s house in Barishal’s Gouranadi was targeted. Similar incidents of looting, vandalism, and arson have been reported in Bogura, Patuakhali, Sherpur, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Chattogram, Jashore, Satkhira, Habiganj, and Narail.

Amidst the severe political unrest in Bangladesh, Hindu and other minority communities are particularly vulnerable to these attacks, with Islamist mobs exploiting the situation. Meanwhile, some left-liberals and Islamist groups have either denied or justified these acts of violence.

(With inputs from OpIndia)

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