DHAKA, Aug 28 (IPS) – Instantly after the autumn of the Sheikh Hasina authorities on August 5, 2024, following weeks of lethal demonstrations staged by college students, folks carried out assaults on the homes and temples of the Hindu group in Dacope of Khulna, about 225 kilometres from Dhaka. They notably attacked and vandalized the homes of minorities believed to be concerned within the politics of the ousted Awami League authorities.
A minimum of 11 Hindu homes in Dacope have been attacked and vandalized, with attackers claiming these have been acts of political revenge.
However, in Dacope, native Muslim and Hindu college students and the group quickly joined collectively to protect the homes and temples of the minorities in order that they’d now not be victimized because of the political changeover.
Starting in mid-June 2024, peaceable pupil protests in Bangladesh turned violent, leading to tons of of individuals killed, together with at the very least 32 kids, and 1000’s injured. The protests have been the results of the reinstatement of a quota system for the distribution of civil service positions.
The federal government resigned in response to the protests, and a civilian interim authorities took its place.
In different areas too, assaults have been carried out on the places of work of the Awami League (AL) and residences and institutions of the AL leaders and temples, church buildings and homes of minority communities throughout Bangladesh throughout unrest.
Nur Nabin Robin, a resident of Chattogram Metropolis, stated many individuals from minority communities, together with Hindus, Buddhist and ethnic folks, reside within the port metropolis in concord.
However when the Sheikh Hasina authorities fell on August 5, folks of the minority communities started to really feel insecure in Chattogram since assaults on minorities have been reportedly being carried out in numerous elements of the nation, he stated.
“So, we patrolled within the metropolis for 2 to a few nights in teams and guarded the temples and homes of the minorities in order that none might assault them. We additionally requested them to name us by way of cell phone if they will sense any clue of assault on them,” Robin advised IPS.
Their issues have been exacerbated as a result of most police stations throughout the nation ceased working after the autumn of the earlier authorities.
Common college students and even madrasa college students got here ahead to guard the homes and locations of worship because the leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Scholar Motion requested supporters to protect temples and church buildings, responding to issues voiced over studies of assaults on minority teams.
Jasim Uddin, a resident of Kuliarchar in Kishoreganj, advised IPS that after the autumn of Sheikh Hasina’s authorities, mobs torched and vandalized homes of many AL leaders in his locality, however members of the Hindu group remained secure throughout the political turmoil as native folks voluntarily safeguarded their temples and properties.
Whereas nationwide monuments and authorities buildings within the capital, Dhaka, have been looted, there have been no studies of assaults on temples or church buildings there throughout the current political turmoil.
In Dhaka, Muslim college students have been discovered guarding the Dhakeshwari Nationwide Temple, a Hindu place of worship. A Muslim was noticed offering prayers in entrance of Dhakeswari temple so no person would assault the temple.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the interim authorities of Bangladesh, visited Dhakeshwari National Temple on August 13, 2024, to precise his solidarity with the Hindu group. Throughout his go to, he referred to as upon the minorities to maintain endurance and stay united.
Yunus condemned the assaults on minority communities within the nation as “heinous.”
Spiritual concord is the lengthy custom of Banglalees, whereas folks from completely different religions—Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian—have been dwelling collectively from technology to technology.
“Over 90 p.c folks in Bangladesh don’t imagine in communalism. Assaults have been carried out on minorities as a result of political cause or gaining private curiosity. Those that carried out looting and vandalism weren’t concerned within the pupil motion,” adviser to interim authorities Syeda Rizwana Hasan advised a operate just lately in Dhaka.
She stated madrasa college students had safeguarded temples in lots of locations of Bangladesh, which confirmed an instance of the nation’s non secular concord.
Barrister Sara Hossain, the honorary government director of the Bangladesh Authorized Help and Providers Belief (BLAST), stated as soon as miscreants perform any assault on minorities, all ought to defend them.
Concern stays
Following the autumn of the Sheikh Hasina authorities, there was chaos throughout the nation, with regulation enforcement officers retreating in lots of locations for concern of retaliation.
In accordance with a report of the Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the United Nations launched on August 16, 2024, assaults have been carried out in opposition to minorities, together with Hindus, particularly within the days instantly after the change of presidency.
The OHCHR report acknowledged the position of the coed organizations and different extraordinary individuals who have been forming teams to guard the minorities.
It particulars among the assaults in opposition to minorities, together with Hindus, particularly within the days instantly after the change of presidency. On August 5 and 6, Hindu homes and properties have been reportedly attacked, vandalized and looted in 27 districts. Quite a lot of locations of worship have been additionally broken, together with an ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Khulna division, which was vandalized and set on fireplace.
On August 5 and 6, Hindu homes and properties have been reportedly attacked, vandalized and looted in 27 districts, whereas many temples have been additionally broken, together with an ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Khulna division, which was vandalized and set on fireplace.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) claimed that around 200-300 Hindu homes and businesses have been vandalized since August 5 final whereas 15-20 Hindu temples have been broken.
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