Bangladesh Hindus demanded the government to stop the violence, Yunus reached the temple and assured them

#News India Bureau August14,2024

Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM), a national platform of 23 religious organisations of Bangladesh, on Tuesday said that 278 Hindu families in 48 districts of the country have faced large-scale violence and vandalism since the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Releasing detailed data on the horrific incidents of violence against the Hindu community of the country between August 5 and 12, BJHM leaders said that despite living in the region for several generations, they are living in an atmosphere of fear.

Appeal to Yunus government

Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM) has also put forward its seven-point list of demands, urging the interim government led by Chief Advisor to the Bangladesh Government Muhammad Yunus to act swiftly in times of uncertainty. “Due to the changing political scenario, incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing and threats to leave the country are happening repeatedly on the Hindu community. This is not just an attack on individuals, but an attack on Hinduism,” Palash Kanti Dey, spokesperson and executive secretary of the forum, said during a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Tuesday, as quoted by the Dhaka Tribune.

These demands were made

Dey said community leaders have conveyed their concerns to Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, Home Affairs Advisor to the interim government, and he has assured that the issue will be taken up in the next cabinet meeting. The seven demands made by the alliance also include a thorough judicial inquiry into the “worst communal attacks” on the Hindu community across the country. Along with this, the creation of Minority Protection Act and Commission, repair of damaged temples and houses of Hindu community at public expense, quick trial and punishment to the culprits as well as making the entire investigation report public, a detailed report on minority persecution in the country from 2000 till date, three days holiday during the upcoming Durga Puja and establishment of a Minority Ministry are the main ones.

Yunus reached the temple

BJHM President Prabhas Chandra Roy said, “Whenever the government changes, Hindus are the first to be attacked. Although, earlier there were fewer such incidents in this country, but, recently they have increased. We want to live with security in this country. We are born here and we have rights.” Earlier in the day, interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus visited a historic Hindu temple in Dhaka and assured Hindu community leaders that establishing human rights and freedom of expression is one of his major goals.

Yunus instilled confidence
“Everyone has equal rights in the country. There is no discrimination among us. Please help, be patient and judge us later on what we did and what we did not do. If we fail, criticize,” Yunus told local media during a visit to Dhakeshwari National Temple, one of the most important places of worship for the Hindu community for more than 800 years. Asif Najrul, legal and religious affairs adviser to the interim government, and AFM Khaled Hussain also visited the temple with Yunus. “In our democratic spirit, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists, but as human beings. We should be aware of our rights and claim them. The root cause of all problems is the weakness of institutional systems. That is why such problems arise. There is a need to reform the institutional system,” Yunus said in the presence of Bangladesh Puja Utsav Parishad president Vasudev Dhar and general secretary Santosh Sharma.