Thousands protest in Dhaka for safety of Hindus amid anti-minority violence

Source- India Today, Story by Ashutosh Mishra

On Friday, the Hindu minority in Bangladesh held a big rally in Dhaka to protest atrocities and persecution at the hands of extremist elements, demanding protection and justice.

Thousands of Hindus from throughout Bangladesh gathered at Dhaka's ancient Central Shahid Minar under the banner of the Combined Minority Alliance, urging the Muhammad Yunus-led administration to accept an eight-point demand to safeguard minority populations' safety and well-being.

Since Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister on August 5th in the wake of widespread, violent protests, the Hindu community has been targeted for violence. Targets around the nation included their citizens, temples, and endowments; there were also reports of forced land grabs, rapes, arson, looting, threats against their lives, and forced migration.
Despite assurances of safety for the Hindu minorities given by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus's interim government, which assumed office on August 7, attacks are said to have persisted even after two months. The goal of Friday's demonstration was to stop the bloodshed.

Shuka Ray, a local Hindu activist, remarked, “The quota movement, which ultimately led to Sheikh Hasina's resignation, was a united effort that included Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and people from various backgrounds. However, in the aftermath of this movement’s success, concerns are growing over the violence directed at Hindu communities, with their homes being attacked and many being forced to flee their homeland.”

She further commented, "The chief advisor of the current government has not addressed these issues, proceeding with plans that seemingly disregard the interests of the country's three crore Hindus".

Sujoy Sarkar, another activist, alleged that "the extremists are opposing our Durga Puja celebration, and in many places, they are destroying our idols and temples".

The protesters, including Hindu sages, urged the government to address their eight-point demands. They are:

1. Compensation for the families of missing, deceased, injured, or affected religious minorities.
2. Establishment of a Ministry for Minority Development.
3. Formulation of a Minority Protection Law and the establishment of a special tribunal for justice.
4. Declaration of three days of public holidays for Durga Puja.
5. Recovery of confiscated religious properties, enacting a preservation law, and restoration of temples in respective areas.
6. Establishment of model temples in all 64 districts and a Vedic university, transforming the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust into a foundation.
7. Modernisation of the Sanskrit and Pali Education Board.
8. Declaration of a public holiday for the Rath Yatra.

Meanwhile, amid the protest, the authorities shut down internet access in the Shahid Minar area, where the gathering took place.