DHAKA – On August 9, hundreds of protesters gathered in Dhaka to decry the recent surge in violence against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, sparked by the abrupt resignation and flight of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this week.
The unrest, which followed Hasina’s resignation on August 5, has seen widespread attacks on Hindu homes, businesses, and temples across the predominantly Muslim nation. A school teacher was tragically killed, and at least 45 others were injured in the violence.
The protestors, some holding signs demanding the protection of Bangladesh’s minorities, chanted, “Who are we? Bengali, Bengali!” as they blocked a major intersection in Dhaka, calling for peace and an end to the ongoing attacks.
Hindus, who constitute approximately 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have traditionally been supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party. The recent wave of violence has been attributed to rising tensions following violent clashes in July between anti-quota protesters and security forces, which have since fueled public anger.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that at least 52 out of the country’s 64 districts have experienced communal violence since August 5. The council has reached out to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who took charge as the head of a caretaker government on August 8, seeking his intervention to protect minority communities.
“There is widespread fear, anxiety, and uncertainty among minorities nationwide,” the council wrote in an open letter dated August 9.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s office has also called for an immediate halt to the violence in Bangladesh, stressing its opposition to “racially based attacks” and “racially based incitement to violence.”
In response to the escalating violence, thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have reportedly been attempting to flee to neighboring India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement on social media platform X on August 8, urging for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
In his first televised address after assuming office, Mr. Yunus outlined his administration’s commitment to upholding “democracy, justice, human rights, and full freedom of fearless expression” for all citizens of Bangladesh.