DHAKA, Aug 28 (IPS) – Homes within the Hindu neighborhood of Kurnada Kop have been attacked after weeks of lethal demonstrations by college students after the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s authorities on August 5, 2024. and temple, about 225 kilometers from Dhaka. They significantly attacked and vandalized the homes of minorities believed to be concerned within the politics of the ousted Awami League authorities.
At the least 11 Hindu homes in Dacope have been attacked and vandalized in what the attackers claimed was an act of political revenge.
However in Dakoppe, native Muslim and Hindu college students and communities quickly united to defend the houses and temples of the minorities in order that they might now not fall sufferer to political change.
Starting in mid-June 2024, peaceable scholar protests in Bangladesh turned violent, leading to lots of of deaths, together with no less than 32 kids, and hundreds of accidents. The protests have been the results of the reinstatement of a quota system for allocating civil service jobs.
The federal government resigned because of protests and was changed by a civilian interim authorities.
Elsewhere, Awami League (AL) workplaces, residences and services of Awami League leaders in addition to temples, church buildings and homes of minority communities throughout Bangladesh have been additionally attacked through the unrest.
Chittagong resident Nur Nabin Robin stated many individuals from minority communities, together with Hindus, Buddhists and ethnic minorities, reside in concord within the port metropolis.
However he stated when Sheikh Hasina’s authorities collapsed on August 5, individuals from minority communities in Chittagong started to really feel unsafe as assaults towards minorities have been reported in several components of the nation .
“So, we patrolled the town in batches for 2 or three nights, guarding the temples and homes of the ethnic minorities to forestall anybody from attacking them. We additionally requested them to name us on their cellphones in the event that they discovered any clues in regards to the assault. .
Their considerations are exacerbated by the truth that most police stations throughout the nation ceased operations after the autumn of the earlier authorities.
Whereas leaders of the anti-discrimination scholar motion requested supporters to protect temples and church buildings, bizarre college students and even these in non secular faculties got here ahead to guard homes and locations of worship in response to considerations expressed over reviews of assaults on minorities.
Jasim Uddin, a resident of Kishoreganj Kuliarchar, advised IPS that after the autumn of Sheikh Hasina’s authorities, mobs burned and vandalized the homes of many native PLA leaders, however members of the Hindu neighborhood remained secure because of native volunteers through the political unrest. .
Whereas nationwide monuments and authorities buildings within the capital Dhaka have been looted, there have been no reviews of assaults on temples or church buildings amid the current political unrest.
In Dhaka, Muslim college students have been noticed guarding the Dakshwari Nationwide Temple, a Hindu place of worship. A Muslim was noticed praying in entrance of the Dakeswari temple in order that nobody would assault the temple.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Authorities of Bangladesh, visited the Dakshwari Nationwide Temple on August 13, 2024 to specific solidarity with the Hindu neighborhood. Throughout his go to, he known as on ethnic minorities to stay affected person and united.
Yunus condemned assaults on the nation’s minority communities as “outrageous”.
Spiritual concord is a protracted custom amongst Bengalis, with individuals from totally different religions – Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity – dwelling collectively for generations.
Syeda Rizwana, an adviser to the interim authorities, stated: “Greater than 90% of individuals in Bangladesh don’t consider in communalism. Assaults on minorities are for political causes or for private achieve. Those that perform looting and destruction The particular person liable for the conduct was not concerned within the scholar motion.
She stated madrasa college students had protected temples in lots of components of Bangladesh, a mannequin of non secular concord within the nation.
Barrister Sara Hussain, honorary govt director of Bangladesh Authorized Support and Companies Belief (BLAST), stated that in case of any assault by miscreants on minorities, everybody ought to shield them.
Considerations stay
The nation has been plunged into chaos because the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s authorities, with regulation enforcement officers in lots of locations retreating for worry of reprisal.
Based on a report launched by the Workplace of the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on August 16, 2024, assaults towards minority teams, together with Hindus, significantly occurred within the days after the change of presidency.
The OHCHR report acknowledges the function of scholar organizations and different basic public teams in defending minorities.
It particulars a lot of assaults towards minority teams, together with Hindus, significantly within the days following the change of presidency. Based on reviews, Hindu homes and properties have been attacked, vandalized and looted in 27 districts on August 5 and 6. A number of locations of worship have been additionally vandalized, together with an ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Khulna, which was vandalized and set on fireplace.
Based on reviews, from August fifth to sixth, Hindu homes and properties have been attacked, broken and looted in 27 districts, and plenty of temples have been additionally broken, together with an Irvine Temple in Meherpur, Khulna Province. and arson.
The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unification Council (BHBCUC) claimed that round 200-300 Hindu houses and companies have been vandalized since August 5 final 12 months, and 15-20 Hindu temples have been vandalized.
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