demonstration in bangladesh
Dhaka: People of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh have taken to the streets, fed up with the attacks and harassment on them. Thousands of members of the Hindu community took out a rally demanding protection from the interim government from the series of attacks and harassment and cancellation of treason cases registered against the leaders of this community. About 30,000 Hindus rallied at a major intersection in the south-eastern city of Chittagong and raised slogans. Protests were also reported elsewhere in the country.
Thousands of attacks against Hindus
Hindu groups say there have been thousands of attacks against Hindus since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s secular government in early August and Hasina fleeing the country. After the fall of Hasina’s government, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus. Sheikh Hasina left the country after the students’ agitation turned violent.
Hindus eight percent of the total population
The population of Hindus in Bangladesh is about 1 crore 70 lakh, which is eight percent of the total population, while 91 percent of the population is Muslim. The country’s influential minority group ‘Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council’ has said that there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since August 4. Hindus and other minority communities say the interim government has not adequately protected them and that radical Islamists are becoming increasingly influential after Hasina’s departure. A case was registered on sedition charges on Wednesday against 19 Hindu leaders, including prominent priest Chandan Kumar Dhar, over the October 25 rally in the city. A protest was organized against this in Chittagong on Friday. People of Hindu community are angry with the arrest of two leaders.
Will take out rally on Saturday also
It is alleged that a group of people attending the October 25 rally had allegedly placed a saffron flag over the Bangladesh flag on a pole. This was considered an insult to the national flag. Hindu community leaders say the cases are politically motivated and on Thursday they demanded that the cases be withdrawn within 72 hours. Members of the Hindu community have planned to organize another rally on Saturday.
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