Pratik Das, Pune
At least 232 people have died in Bangladesh amidst ongoing violence since Sheikh Hasina stepped down as Prime Minister after protests. According to the newspaper Prothom Alo, this has increased the total deaths to 560 in the previous 23 days. The protests started in July over a quota system used for government jobs and grew into a larger movement against the government of Sheikh Hasina.
On Friday, many people in Dhaka gathered to protest the attacks on Hindus that have started after Sheikh Hasina stepped down and left the country earlier this week. The deaths include a school teacher, and at least 45 people were hurt when Hindu homes, businesses and temples were attacked.
Protesters in Dhaka blocked a major intersection on Friday, carrying posters asking for the protection of minorities in Bangladesh and chanting, “Who are we? Bengali, Bengali.”
Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people, have generally supported Hasina’s Awami League party. However, tensions have increased after clashes between anti-reservation protesters and government security forces in the previous month, causing violence.
As per Reuters, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has reported that communal violence has hit approximately at least 52 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts since 5th August. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who took over a caretaker administration on Thursday, is helping the council. The council expressed serious worry in an open letter, saying that minorities across the country are facing deep fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. After taking office, Yunus said in a televised speech that his government aims to provide democracy, justice, human rights, and full freedom of expression for everyone.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s office asked for the violence in Bangladesh to stop and condemned any attacks or calls for violence based on race.
Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, a local official in Thakurgaon district in northwestern Bangladesh, said that around 700-800 Hindus tried to escape to India on Wednesday after their homes were attacked and looted. He told Reuters that they came back home after getting protection. “Border guard troops are patrolling the area,” he said. Reportedly, all is calm and no new reports of violence have surfaced.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in the country in a post on X.
According to Reuters, Hindu leaders in Bangladesh have asked other communities to support religious minorities. Moyna Talukdar from the Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council urged everyone to put aside differences, support those affected, and join together to resist the violence.