Hindu protests erupt in Bangladesh amidst political turmoil, Yunus seeks amicable relations with India

By Nava Thakuria*

Recent public demonstrations in Dhaka and Chittagong have challenged the commonly held perception that Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh are always subjected to persecution by the Muslim majority. Following a period of significant political unrest that began in July, at least four large protests have emerged, the latest occurring on September 13, 2024.

Thousands gathered at the Shahbag intersection in Dhaka to demand immediate and effective action against ongoing attacks on minority communities and their places of worship. At the forefront of these protests were representatives from the Sanatani Adikhar Andolan, a coalition of Hindu organizations, including the Hindu Jagaran Mancha and the National Hindu Forum.

They criticized the Bangladeshi government for its inaction and presented an eight-point charter of demands. This charter includes calls for thorough investigations into each incident of violence against Hindu families and properties, with a focus on holding perpetrators accountable under the law.

Additionally, they demanded compensation and rehabilitation for victims, the establishment of a minority commission and ministry, and reserved seats for minorities in the national assembly. Protesters emphasized their identity as legitimate citizens of Bangladesh, firmly rejecting any claims of being outsiders or agents from India.

Since mid-July, nearly 850 people have lost their lives, and over 30,000 have been injured in the violent upheaval plaguing Bangladesh. Reports suggest that there have been approximately 1,000 incidents of violence targeting Hindus and other minorities since the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime.

Criticised for keeping mum on atrocities on minorities in India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which claims to be a socio-cultural organization, expressed "deep concern" over the violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, condemning what it called "targeted killings, looting, arson, and assaults on women and temples."

RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale condemned the "brutality" and called on the interim government to take decisive measures to prevent further violence. He urged all political parties in India to stand in solidarity with the persecuted groups in Bangladesh and insisted that the Indian government prioritize the safety of Hindus and Buddhists in the predominantly Muslim nation.

In a televised address on September 11, interim government leader Professor Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed the administration's commitment to ensure justice and accountability for the killings that occurred in July and August. He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by numerous students, journalists, and civilians who opposed the authoritarian rule of the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus pledged that the government would provide medical treatment for those injured during the protests, highlighting the severe impact of police actions, including the targeting of protesters' eyes with rubber bullets.

The interim government, formed with significant public backing to oversee credible national elections in 90 days, may need to implement major reforms across various institutions before holding the polls in a country of 170 million people.

Recently, the administration announced plans to establish six commissions aimed at reforming critical sectors, including police, public administration, anti-corruption mechanisms, and the judiciary. Many Bangladeshis believe that genuine electoral reforms are essential for ensuring free and fair elections.

Tragically, five journalists lost their lives while covering the unrest, prompting the Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) to call for a swift investigation into their deaths.

Professor Yunus has emphasized his government's intention to maintain amicable relations with India, advocating for a partnership grounded in fairness and equality. On August 16, he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who underscored the importance of protecting Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Modi reportedly expressed his commitment to ensuring their safety and invited Yunus and a group of journalists to visit India at their convenience.

---

*Senior journalist based in Guwahati

Comments

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Ahmedabad's Sabarmati riverfront under scrutiny after Subhash Bridge damage

By Rosamma Thomas* Large cracks have appeared on Subhash Bridge across the Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, close to the Gandhi Ashram . Built in 1973, this bridge, named after Subhash Chandra Bose , connects the eastern and western parts of the city and is located close to major commercial areas. The four-lane bridge has sidewalks for pedestrians, and is vital for access to Ashram Road , Ellis Bridge , Gandhinagar and the Sabarmati Railway Station .

Farewell to Robin Smith, England’s Lionhearted Warrior Against Pace

By Harsh Thakor* Robin Smith, who has died at the age of 62, was among the most adept and convincing players of fast bowling during an era when English cricket was in decline and pace bowling was at its most lethal. Unwavering against the tormenting West Indies pace attack or the relentless Australians, Smith epitomised courage and stroke-making prowess. His trademark shot, an immensely powerful square cut, made him a scourge of opponents. Wearing a blue England helmet without a visor or grille, he relished pulling, hooking and cutting the quicks.

No action yet on complaint over assault on lawyer during Tirunelveli public hearing

By A Representative A day after a detailed complaint was filed seeking disciplinary action against ten lawyers in Tirunelveli for allegedly assaulting human rights lawyer Dr. V. Suresh, no action has yet been taken by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

Latur’s quiet rebel: Dr Suryanarayan Ransubhe and his war on Manuvad

By Ravi Ranjan* In an India still fractured by caste, religion, and language, where narrow loyalties repeatedly threaten to tear the nation apart, Rammanohar Lohia once observed that the true leader of the bahujans is one under whose banner even non-bahujans feel proud to march. The remark applies far beyond politics. In the literary-cultural and social spheres as well, only a person armed with unflinching historical consciousness and the moral courage to refuse every form of personality worship—including worship of oneself—can hope to touch the weak pulse of the age and speak its bitter truths without fear or favour.

Differences in 2002 and 2025 SIR revision procedures spark alarm in Gujarat

By A Representative Civil rights groups and electoral reform activists have raised serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat and 11 other states, alleging that the newly enforced requirements could lead to large-scale deletion of legitimate voters, particularly those unable to furnish documentation linking them to the 2002 electoral list.

Urgent need to study cause of large number of natural deaths in Gulf countries

By Venkatesh Nayak* According to data tabled in Parliament in April 2018, there are 87.76 lakh (8.77 million) Indians in six Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While replying to an Unstarred Question (#6091) raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said, during the first half of this financial year alone (between April-September 2018), blue-collared Indian workers in these countries had remitted USD 33.47 Billion back home. Not much is known about the human cost of such earnings which swell up the country’s forex reserves quietly. My recent RTI intervention and research of proceedings in Parliament has revealed that between 2012 and mid-2018 more than 24,570 Indian Workers died in these Gulf countries. This works out to an average of more than 10 deaths per day. For every US$ 1 Billion they remitted to India during the same period there were at least 117 deaths of Indian Workers in Gulf ...

From crime to verdict: The 27-year journey that 'rewarded' the destroyers of Babri Masjid

By Shamsul Islam Thirty-three years ago, on December 6, 1992, a 16th-century mosque was reduced to rubble by a frenzied mob orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political fronts. The demolition was not a spontaneous outburst of Hindu sentiment; it was the meticulously planned culmination of a hate campaign that branded Indian Muslims as “Babur-ki-aulad” and the Babri Masjid as a symbol of historical humiliation.

Bangladesh alternative more vital for NE India than Kaladan project in Myanmar

By Mehjabin Bhanu* There has been a recent surge in the number of Chin refugees entering Mizoram from the adjacent nation as a result of airstrikes by the Myanmar Army on ethnic insurgents and intense fighting along the border between India and Myanmar. Uncertainty has surrounded India's Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which uses Sittwe port in Myanmar, due to the recent outbreak of hostilities along the Mizoram-Myanmar border. Construction on the road portion of the Kaladan project, which runs from Paletwa in Myanmar to Zorinpui in Mizoram, was resumed thanks to the time of relative calm during the intermittent period. However, recent unrest has increased concerns about missing the revised commissioning goal dates. The project's goal is to link northeastern states with the rest of India via an alternate route, using the Sittwe port in Myanmar. In addition to this route, India can also connect the region with the rest of India through Assam by using the Chittagon...

Search This Blog