Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Under relentless attacks and repression from Muslim fundamentalists since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in August, the Bangladeshi minority Hindus on Friday took out a massive rally in Chittagong and demanded justice from the Interim Government led by Chief Advisor Muhammed Yunus, the media reported.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s exit, attacks on Hindu homes, temples, and shops across Bangladesh forced them to launch protests. Their shrines and endowments were targeted throughout the Islamic country, with crimes including rape, arson, looting, forced land grabs, extortion, threats to life, and coercion to flee the country.
They gathered in Chittagong on Friday under the banner of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Manch (SJM) and demanded a Minority Protection Act and a dedicated ministry for their welfare and protection. Besides, the Hindus also demanded places of worship for minorities at educational institutions.
The minority community has been facing attacks since August 5, when Hasina quit following massive violent protests against her government, led by the Muslim fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami under the guise of “students’ agitation.”.
THE DEMANDS OF BANGLADESH SANATAN JAGARAN MANCH
- The Minority Protection Act should be enacted immediately.
- A Ministry of Minority Affairs should be formed.
- Hindu Welfare Trusts should be upgraded to Hindu Foundations. Besides, Buddhist and Christian welfare trustees should also be elevated to foundations.
- The ‘Property Recovery and Preservation Act and Transfer of Entrusted Property Act’ should be properly implemented.
- Construction of places of worship for minorities in every educational institution and allotment of prayer rooms in every hostel.
- Board of Sanskrit and Pali Education to be modernized, and
- A five-day holiday should be given for the autumn Durga Puja.
Sanatan Jagaran Manch has also threatened to launch a massive protest in the national capital Dhaka if their demands are not met.
Although the Yunus-led government, that took charge on August 7, promised safety for the Hindu minorities, attacks continued even after two months.
Meanwhile, Muslim student groups and radical organizations have openly threatened Hindus not to protest and asked them to leave the country.