Hundreds of Hindu houses, businesses and temples have been vandalised, torched and looted since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as Islamist extremists have taken advantage of the political turmoil to unleash a wave of terror and violence against the minority community in Bangladesh.
“After Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister, minorities were attacked in 39 districts. The attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh have been systematic over the decades,” said Rana Dasgupta, General-Secretary of the country’s Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Unity Council.
“There is an orchestrated attempt to grab Hindu houses and lands in Bangladesh and they are being forced to leave the country.”
In many places, minorities are under siege. Somewhere, the people around them are threatening them. With this, the land grabbing of the minority communities also continuously unabated, he said.
“I fear there may be a wave of emigration among the minorities. And if this situation continues, it will not be good for any country in the subcontinent, not only for Bangladesh”, he added.
“There was such a destructive group among the protesters from the beginning. They were in the midst of the movement. Then understanding the opportunity, now they are revealing their nature. This evil group wants minorities not to stay in this country”, said Mr Gupta adding,“Their target is not only the minority community, but also the government establishment and above all all the achievements of the liberation war of this country. That’s what I think of the targets of the attack.”
Minority women were also assaulted, and at least two Hindu leaders were killed, said local journalist.
The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre located in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area was also damaged by the unruly mob, said the locals.
Haradhan Roy, a councilor of the Rangpur City Corporation was also brutally killed on Sunday in one of the deadliest days since the start of the protest. Another councillor, identified as Kajal Roy, was also reportedly murdered.
The death toll in the anti-government protests in Bangladesh on Tuesday climbed to 450, with at least 140 more deaths reported after Sheikh Hasina fled the country.
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday dissolved the parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, a day after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following massive protests against her government.
Bangladesh stands at the crossroads, with the uncertainty of its future direction, amid unrest involving mob violence, and widespread arson attack across the country.
Bangladesh has prided itself on its secular credentials since it gained independence from Pakistan in 1971. Though the constitution stipulates Islam as the state religion, it also upholds the principle of secularism.
Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, gained independence from Pakistan after a bloody war.
Source: The Chittagong Hill Tracts
