O N KOUL
Bangladesh which in fact is the creation of India will go down in the history of Indian subcontinent for the persecution and attacks on its minority Hindu population recently and that country is rightly condemned for its atrocities ,attacks ,killings ,molestation ,rape and loot of Hindus there .Amid anti-Hindu attacks ,there were also examples of some sane Muslims protecting Hindu neighbors .There is worst kind of human rights violation of the minority Hindus in Bangladesh and the world human right organizations should take due note of these inhuman atrocities and consequent human right violations of the Hindu population there .The world human right watch and amnesty international should not only take note of the human right violations of Hindu’s in Bangladesh but should also take punitive action against Bangladesh .It is very unfortunate that a swami who had arranged iftar for many Muslim brethren for whole of Ramzan was murdered brutally by the extremists .The interim government headed by Younis does not take need and appropriate steps to contain violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh .It is very unfortunate that hundreds of Hindu houses ,businesses ,and temples have been vandalized following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina .India has voiced concerns about the incident ,with EAM S.Jaishankar saying that ”what was particularly worrying was that minorities ,their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations .”Hindu’s constitute about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population and have historically largely supported Hasina’s Awami League Party ,which identifies as largely secular ,instead of the opposition bloc that includes a hardliner Islamist party .The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council -BHBCUC said 200-300 mainly Hindu homes and businesses had been vandalized since Monday ,and 15-20 Hindu temples damaged. Up to 40 people have been injured though not seriously ,its general secretary ,Rana Dasgupta ,told Reuters .”The communal atrocities erupted hours before Hasina resigned,” he said ”Houses and businesses of minorities ,especially Hindus ,as well as temples have been targeted ,looted ,damaged .The situation is horrific as per Mahindra Kumar Nath ,a Hindu community leader. ”Even today ,we are getting calls from people asking us to save their lives ,but we are not receiving any support from anywhere ”Hindu community leaders said that they were feeling vulnerable because of the lack of a functioning government .In response to the widespread attacks on minorities ,especially Hindus ,in post -Hasina Bangladesh ,UK and USA streets witnessed massive protests against the atrocities and attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh .Passionate plea for protection of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh ,urging immediate action from Biden Administration .In a powerful yet peaceful display of solidarity over 300 Indian Americans and Banglidashi -origin Hindus gathered at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston on Sunday August 11,2024 morning to protest the horrific acts committed by Islamist extremists targeting Hindu’s and other minorities in Bangladesh .The air was thick with emotions as attendees united for a cause that resonated deeply with their identities and beliefs .Organisors passionately called the Biden Administration to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further atrocities and to protect vulnerable minority communities in Bangladesh .The recent surge in violence against Hindu communities poses an urgent and alarming threat to peace and stability in the region ,and the time to act is now .The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad presented the data in an open letter to Muhammad Yunus .Members of minority communities in Bangladesh faced at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina -led government on August 5,according to two Hindu organizations in the violence -hit nation .Houses and business establishments of Hindu’s were attacked by mobs and their valuables were also looted in at least 27 districts .Two Hindu councilors were killed amid widespread violence. What started as a protest against a quota system for government jobs in Bangladesh has turned into widespread looting and rioting across the country ,with the minority community ,mainly Hindu’s ,coming under attack. With Shiekh Hasina fleeing to India and an interim government at the time of rioting still to be formed ,videos of temples being set on fire and houses and businesses of Hindu’s being attacked have flooded social media .Bangladesh witnessed the ousting of Sheikh Hasina amid widespread violence ,followed by the establishment of an interim government ,culminating in forced resignations of the country’s chief justice and governor on Saturday .However ,during this turbulent period ,reports of multiple attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh surfaced .After the fallout of the Shiekh Hasina government ,at least two Hindu organizations in Bangladesh and members of minority community have faced at least 205 attacks across 52 districts .Two prominent Hindu organizations presented data on such attacks to Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunis ,who had just been sworn in as the head of the interim government ,according to The Daily Star newspaper. ”We seek protection because our lives are in a disastrous state .We are staying up night ,guarding our homes and temples .I have never seen anything like this in my life .We demand that the government restore communal harmony in the country ,”Nirmal Rosario ,one of the three presidents of the unity council ,said .As reported by The Hindu ,Kajal Devnath ,a presidium member of the unity council, said ,”Those involved in attacking minorities must be brought to justice .If a minority individual is attacked for political reasons ,it is still unacceptable .Anyone who commits a crime should be judged ,but burning homes and looting will not lead to justice .”From UK to USA ,global outcry grows louder over violence against Hindu’s in Bangladesh .In response to the widespread attacks on minorities ,particularly Hindu’s in post -Hasina Bangladesh ,UK and USA streets witnessed massive protests against the atrocities and attacks on Hindu’s in Bangladesh .Significant crowds gathered outside and staged protest in front the Houses of Parliament in London and outside the White House in USA. Protestors held placards reading ‘Save Hindus,’ ”Hindu lives matter ”and demanded justice .Currently Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with its president resigned and flew to India on August 5 in the wake of mounting pressure .Political transition in Bangladesh hard without addressing Hindu violence…US based expert reacts .In a recent conversation with ANI ,Michael Kugelman ,Director of the South Asia Institute at Wilson centre ,highlighted Bangladesh’s growing political instability ,emphasizing the security vacuum due to an insufficient police presence and a hesitant army .He noted that the situation is exacerbated by violent protests and attacks on religious minorities ,particularly Hindu’s. Kugelman warned that until law and order is restored ,achieving a peaceful political transition in Bangladesh will be challenging .The recent unrest has raised concerns about the country’s future stability .As interim government headed by MD Yunis took oath ,the safety of minority communities ,especially Hindus ,in a violence -hit nation remains a concern .On August 9,a large gathering of Hindu demonstrators took to the Dhaka streets against attacks on their properties. .Protesters held placards reading ‘Hindu lives matter’ ,’Save Bangladeshi Hindus ‘and photographs of vandalized Hindu houses an temples .Notably ,Hindu temples ,businesses and institutions were targeted in Bangladesh .Hundreds of Hindu houses ,businesses and temples have been vandalized following the ouster of the PM and her fleeing to India .India has voiced concerns about the incidents ,with EAM S.Jaishankar saying that ” what was particularly worrying was that minorities ,their businesses and temples also came under attack at many places .”India has evacuated all non -essential staff and their families from its embassy and consulates in Bangladesh .An ISKCON temple in Meher pur ,located in Bangladesh’s Khulna division ,and a Kali temple were vandalized and set on fire .One of our ISKCON centres in Meherpur was burnt ,including the deities of Lord Jagannath,Baladeva and Subhadra Devi .The attack on the ISKCON temple is part of a broader wave of violence that has targeted multiple Hindu temples across Bangladesh in the last few days .There is perpetual sense of fear and insecurity among minorities particularly Hindus and many of them have fled to India for safety of their lives .Prime Minister Narendra Modi should use his good offices and his global image to contain violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and he should impress upon the interim government and its head Mohammed Younis to put an end to anti -Hindu violence in that country and protect and safeguard Hindus so that they feel a sense of security .Bangladesh media outlets have reported severe persecution of Hindus leading to several attempts by Bangladeshi Hindus to illegally cross over to India for their safety .In short Hindu persecution ,attacks and atrocities on them are unfortunate and a cause of concern and grief and these should end immediately.