Durga Puja: Ahead of presidential polls at home, the US urges Bangladesh to protect Hindus’ rights
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Under pressure from the influential Hindus, and their widespread protests ahead of the presidential elections on November 4, the United States has urged Bangladesh to protect the rights of the minority community whose largest annual festival, Durga Puja, began on Monday.
It said “it wants to see the rights of the minority communities protected in Bangladesh,” the media reported on Tuesday.
In recent weeks, Muslim fundamentalists, led by the Jamaat-e-Islami, have vandalized scores of Hindu temples, properties, and houses, killed many, and maimed many more. They also destroyed the idols of Durga, and demanded ‘protection money, to allow the Hindus to celebrate their festivals.
The US Congress’ statement came in the wake of increasing attacks on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh following the ouster of the elected government led by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in August. Because of national unrest, she escaped to India in August.
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the military-supported government, is the head of the current caretaker regime of the country until the next parliamentary elections, wherever they are held.
“Of course, we want to see the rights of minorities protected in Bangladesh as also is true all around the world,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
He was responding to a question about the threat being posed to the Hindu community by some religious fundamentalists as they celebrate their largest festival, Durga Puja.
India has urged the interim Bangladesh government to ensure peaceful religious events for the Hindu community in the South Asian country.
More than 600 people, including Hindus, were killed during violent protests in Bangladesh culminating in the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, according to a UN report.
