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Bangladeshi Hindus Protest In Dhaka Demanding Protection Amid Escalating Violence

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.

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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