New Delhi: Nearly 400 properties linked to religious minorities, apart from 20-25 Hindu temples, spread across half of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, have been attacked in the past 48 hours, says Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
“As of the moment, there are reports of at least two Hindus being killed, while nearly 400 properties, including houses and businesses of Hindus have been attacked and destroyed by communal hooligans in the last two days,” Dasgupta tells ThePrint over the phone.
He adds, “Violence against minorities has been seen in at least 30 districts of the country. There have been attacks against Ahmadiyyas as well. It must be mentioned that the student demonstrators yesterday (Tuesday) kept vigil outside properties of minorities to protect them from miscreants.”
Reports have emerged of targeted violence and looting in parts of Bangladesh since the sudden resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina Monday. As Hasina fled Dhaka in a military chopper, thousands of protesters stormed her official residence, Ganabhaban, stripping it of everything from clothes to furniture.
Visuals are also doing the rounds of statues and memorials built in the memory of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – Hasina’s father and the first leader of independent Bangladesh – being destroyed. His childhood home in Dhanmondi 32, too, was attacked and set on fire.
According to Dagupta, memorials or items held at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka were destroyed in the attacks. Vandals also did not spare memorials of ‘Bangabandhu’ in the capital city.
“Communal hooligans have taken the chance to attack homes and businesses because of the lack of an administration in the country,” he says.
Following Hasina’s resignation, Bangladesh Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced Monday that he was taking responsibility for the political transition to an interim government. President Mohammad Shahabuddin of Bangladesh Tuesday dissolved parliament and later in the day his office announced the formation of an interim government to be headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Grameen Bank founder Yunus, who pioneered microfinancing policies that helped lift millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty, was urged by student protesters to return to the country and take up a role as chief adviser to the interim government. He was also targeted by the Hasina administration, and is currently out on bail after being convicted of violating the country’s labour laws in January 2024.
However, in the interregnum, attacks were carried out against Hasina supporters, including those affiliated with her party Awami League. For instance, a hotel owned by an Awami League leader in Jashore district was burned down Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people including a foreign national, according to reports.
Further, at least two ministers from Hasina’s now-ousted government, foreign minister Hasan Mahmud and IT minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, were detained after trying to flee the country. Palak was reported to have attempted to flee to New Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a statement to Parliament Tuesday said New Delhi is monitoring the situation in Bangladesh with concern, especially the attacks on religious minorities there. On Wednesday, around 170 non-essential staff, their families and seriously ill Indians returned from the country as reported by ThePrint earlier.
“The mobs are anti-Indian and anti-Hindu in Bangladesh,” says Dasgupta, explaining that as a reason for the attacks on Awami League supporters.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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