Hindus Protest In Dhaka Over Violence & ‘232 Killings’ Since Hasina’s Ouster [Watch]

Dhaka: The streets of Dhaka reverberated with the chats of “Hare Krishna” as hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus protested against a spate of targeted attacks against them and vandalisation of temples since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina quit and fled the country earlier this week amid massive protests demanding her ouster.

The protesters carried posters demanding to be “saved” and raised slogans such as “Who are we? Bengali, Bengali,” as they blocked an intersection in the capital and appealed for peace.

“Bangladesh Hindus have taken to the streets in Shahbagh, Dhaka, to protest the attacks on their person, properties, and places of worship since August 5,” Hasina’s Awami League posted on X while sharing videos of the protests.

#Breaking: #Bangladesh #Hindus have taken to the streets in #Shahbagh #Dhaka to protest the attacks on their person, properties, and places of worship since Aug 5. In fact, the attacks were sporadically taking place even during the peak of #violence centering the #QuotaMovement. pic.twitter.com/XqCGk0OYdC

— Bangladesh Watch (@bdwatch2024) August 9, 2024

Hindus, who comprise about 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have traditionally supported Awami League party.

According to the The Dhaka Tribune, at least 232 people have reportedly died in various attacks and conflicts across Bangladesh over the past three days. A schoolteacher and two Hindu councillors were killed and at least 45 people injured, Reuters reported. An ISKCON temple in Meherpur, located in Bangladesh’s Khulna division, was also vandalised and set on fire.

In an open letter on August 9, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council claimed that at least 52 of the country’s 64 districts have been impacted by communal violence.

Meanwhile, a large crowd also gathered outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, demanding protection for Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Soon after Professor Muhammad Yunus took charge of Bangladesh on August 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that India hoped for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities in the neighbouring country. The MEA, in its weekly briefing, also emphasised that various initiatives have been taken by groups and organisations in Bangladesh to ensure the protection of minorities.