Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts have been faced by minority communities in Bangladesh, two Hindu organizations said in the violence-hit nation. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad presented this data on Friday in an open letter to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was sworn in as an interim government head at the age of 84, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
According to available data, members of minority communities have been attacked at least 205 times across 52 districts since Monday when Hasina resigned and fled to India in the face of countrywide protests against her administration’s controversial job quota system.
“Our lives are really bad so we need protection. We are keeping vigil over our homes and temples whole night. It has never happened before in my life. We urge the government to restore communal peace,” Nirmal Rosario, one of three presidents of the council for unity said.
Rosario also said that Yunus should place it as a top priority and put an end to violence by resolving this crisis which continues deteriorating.
In that letter signed by Rana Dasgupta who is general secretary from Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and Basudev Dhar who is president from Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad welcomed him as its leader or ushering in a new era led by unprecedented mass uprising by students and public aimed at establishing just society.
“When people’s victory is advancing towards its destination we notice with sorrowful hearts that there is a vested quarter hatching conspiracy against this achievement through perpetrating such kind of unprecedented attack upon minority community,” reads part of the letter.
It noted that many minorities living in fear, anxiety and confusion because they are being targeted rather than others who will be concerned about their reaction internationally
“An immediate ending must be demanded” (The report cited the letter).
Kajal Devnath, a member of the unity council said, “Those who are involved in attacking minority must be punished.” It is not acceptable even if it is a political attack on a minority individual. All criminals should be tried but justice will not be served by burning homes and looting them.
“I too had to live with a friend,” he added saying that many Hindu community members are now taking shelter in others’ abodes.
On Friday Yunus named the portfolios of his 16-member council of advisors following his swearing-in ceremony as chief adviser yesterday – a post which is equivalent to prime minister.
After weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations against Hasina’s government student protesters requested him to lead the country for some time thus trying to restore stability and peace in Bangladesh according to ‘Yunus’ first task.
At present law and order restoration is interim administration’s key priority, as told by Foreign Affairs adviser Hossain; others will follow once the first goal is achieved.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Thursday that he was opposed to any racially based attacks amid violence against minorities including or apart from Hindu minority community in Bangladesh.
What is clear to us is that we are focused on reducing the extent of violence that has been happening in Bangladesh in the last few weeks. Haq said, “Of course, we are against incitement of violence for racist reasons or racial motivated attacks.”
Across Bangladesh there have been violent incidents caused by the unrest following Hasina’s government falling on Monday with a total death toll of 560 since mid-July when anti-quota protests started, claiming over 230 lives.
According to two community leaders in Dhaka, while escaping out of the country many Hindu temples were rampaged and households and businesses destroyed, women molested and at least two Awami League party associated Hindu heads killed during violence.
