Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus have tried to flee to India this week after widespread vandalism focused their houses and companies following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that in 45 of the nation’s 64 districts, Hindu houses, companies and temples have been attacked.
The violence has resulted within the dying of a college trainer and accidents to 45 others.
Hindus make up about 8% of Muslim-majority Bangladesh’s 170 million folks and have historically supported Hasina’s Awami League celebration, which identifies as largely secular, fairly than the opposition bloc.
Hasina fled to India on Monday within the face of mass protests in opposition to what critics known as her authoritarian rule, sparking anger amongst some Bangladeshis towards their neighbor.
Many residing close to the India-Bangladesh border are attempting to flee however are dealing with resistance from each side, native residents mentioned. Both nations have elevated border patrols because the violence erupted.
Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, a neighborhood authorities official in Thakurgaon district in northwestern Bangladesh, mentioned about 700-800 Hindus tried to flee to India on Wednesday night after their houses have been attacked and looted.
“They returned home after we provided protection,” Hasan informed Reuters. “Border guard troops are patrolling the area. Everything is fine now with no further reports of violence.”
Early Thursday, about 300 Bangladeshis gathered at a border level close to India’s Jalpaiguri district however later dispersed. Indian media confirmed Indian border troops close to the group.
A Hindu goldsmith within the Narsingdi space, about an hour from Dhaka, who requested anonymity for worry of reprisals, mentioned two youths demanded safety cash of 1 million Bangladesh taka ($8,550) and backed down solely after receiving 100,000 taka.
Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to Bangladesh on Thursday to guide an interim authorities following Hasina’s departure, instructed that the assaults on minorities could possibly be a part of a conspiracy however didn’t specify who may be behind it.
“Our job is to protect all of them,” he mentioned upon arrival in Dhaka from Paris. “If you have faith in me and trust me, please ensure no one is attacked in the country. If you cannot listen to me on this, I have no use being here.”
The two nations have longstanding cultural and business ties, and India performed a key position within the 1971 struggle with Pakistan, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
India, with its Hindu majority, expressed concern over the assaults on minorities, their companies, and temples in Bangladesh.
“It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens,” India’s international ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned at a press convention. “We hope for the early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of the country itself and the larger region.”
Bangladesh’s Hindu neighborhood leaders have urged different communities to help the spiritual minorities.
“I call upon the conscientious people of the country to set aside all differences and stand unitedly with the affected people and build social resistance,” mentioned Moyna Talukdar of the Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council.
Source: www.dailysabah.com