New Delhi: Violent mobs in Bangladesh have been attacking Hindu temples and businesses, even as President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved Parliament Tuesday.
ThePrint saw a list that reported attacks across at least 20 districts Monday — when the army announced Hasina’s resignation and said a caretaker government would take over.
In Dinajpur, five temples were vandalised, while in Khulna, houses belonging to Hindus were attacked and looted, according to the list published by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC).
It also said that in Jessore, three houses were set on fire, while in Jhenaidah, the homes of 10 Hindu families were plundered.
In a post on X, Yudhistir Govinda Das, the national spokesperson for ISKCON India, said that one of the organisation’s centres in Meherpur, Khulna was attacked and set on fire Monday. Das also said three people who lived at the centre were able to escape.
“As per the info I have received, one of our ISKCON centre (rented) in Meherpur (Khulna division) was burnt including with the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi. 3 devotees who lived in the centre somehow managed to escape & survived,” said Das on X.
Bangladesh Update
As per the info I have received, one of our ISKCON center (rented) in Meherpur (Khulna division) was burnt including with the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi.
3 devotees who lived in the center some how managed to escape & survived.
— Yudhistir Govinda Das (@yudhistirGD) August 5, 2024
According to reports, Haradhan Roy, a councillor of the Rangpur City Corporation, was killed Sunday. The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, set up in March 2010 in Dhaka, was also damaged by protesters.
There are about 13.1 million Hindus in Bangladesh, approximately eight percent of its total population, while there are about 400,000 Roman Catholics and 1,000,000 Buddhists in the country, according to the US state department.
According to Bangladeshi media, Hindu businesses and houses have been attacked across a total of 27 districts in the country.
Parliament dissolved, Yunus to be adviser
Hasina, 76, who led the country between 2009 and 2024, resigned Monday and fled the country, after the anti-quota stir by students snowballed into a protest against her rule. While the protests were originally led by students and were peaceful, violence broke out in July 2024 and the country saw a brutal crackdown against the demonstrators by its security forces.
Since Hasina’s resignation, there have been reports of wide scale looting and attacks on groups of people, including those who were part of the ex-PM’s Awami League.
The violence has continued into Tuesday, despite the president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, announcing the dissolution of the Parliament, making way for an interim government to govern the country.
“The decision to dissolve the Parliament was taken following the president’s discussions with chiefs of three staffs of armed forces, leaders of different political parties, representatives of civil society and leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,” said a statement released by the President’s office.
It is clear that the Awami League will have no place in the caretaker government. Bangladeshi media has also reported that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has acceded to the demand that he become chief adviser to the interim government.
Former prime minister and leader of Opposition Khaleda Zia was also released from house arrest, while the process to free those detained during the student protests has begun, according to the President’s office.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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