Dhaka, Sep 1 (IANS) Forty-nine teachers from minority communities in Bangladesh were forced to resign in the weeks following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister, local media reports said.
Bangladesh Chhatra Oikya Parishad, the student wing of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, gave this information at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday, The Daily Star reported.
The organisation’s convener Sajib Sarkar said religious and ethnic minorities have faced violence since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
“This includes looting, attacks on women, vandalism of temples, arson of homes and workplaces and even murders,” he said. The government further revealed that minority teachers across the country faced physical attacks which forced at least 49 teachers to resign till August 30. However, 19 of them have been reinstated.
Sheikh Hasina’s government was forced to step down last month following violent student-led anti-quota protests that left over 400 people dead.
After taking oath, the chief advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus, had said that he would maintain the dignity of the constitution, support and protect the people and perform his duties honestly. At that time, large-scale violence broke out in Bangladesh. After Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, anti-social elements spread unrest in the country and targeted the houses and places of worship of Hindus.
Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM), a national alliance of 23 religious organisations in the country, said Hindu families have faced violence and vandalism at 278 places in 48 districts across the country since August 5.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reiterated India’s support for Bangladesh’s stability and development. He said that we will always wish well for Bangladesh’s ‘development journey’ in the days to come as we are well-wishers of mankind.
–IANS
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