In the wake of escalating violence against Hindu temples and homes across Bangladesh, members of the minority community staged protest in Dhaka’s Shahbagh for the second consecutive day on Saturday, demanding immediate action to safeguard their rights and security.
Demonstrators blocked the road in Shahbagh, condemning the recent wave of vandalism, arson, and looting targeting Hindu properties.
The protest, attended by hundreds, drew attention to the persistent concerns about the safety and treatment of minority communities in Bangladesh, UNB’s photojournalist reported from the spot.
Saturday’s demonstration follows a rally held at Shahbagh on Friday, where Hindu community leaders called for increased representation at the policy-making level and the establishment of a ministry dedicated to minority affairs.
They also demanded the creation of a minority protection commission and strict laws to prevent violence against minorities. A key demand was the allocation of 10% of parliamentary seats to minority groups.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, a prominent organization advocating for minority rights, issued an open letter to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, detailing 205 incidents of persecution across 52 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.
Nirmal Rosario, president of the organization, presented the letter at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
“We have preliminary information that at least 205 incidents of minority persecution have occurred in 52 districts to date,” Rosario said. “We stay up all night guarding our homes and temples. I have never witnessed such events in my life. We demand that the administration restore communal harmony in the country.”
At the rally, the Hindu community issued an eight-point demand, urging the government to establish a tribunal for prosecuting violence against minorities, create a Ministry of Minority Affairs, and enact a 'Minority Protection Act.' They also called for upgrading the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a Hindu Foundation, alongside similar upgrades for Buddhist and Christian trusts.
Additionally, they sought the enactment of laws to recover and preserve Debottar property, the proper implementation of the Vested Property Restitution Act, the construction of worship spaces in educational institutions, and the modernization of the Sanskrit and Pali Education Board. Lastly, they demanded a five-day holiday for Durga Puja.
Partha Kumar Nath expressed his anguish, said: "We are citizens of this country, living here with our families and coexisting peacefully with everyone. So why are we being attacked? Didn’t our Hindu brothers fight in 1971? Didn’t they die in the anti-discrimination student movement? Then why are we being targeted and tortured now?"
The open letter acknowledged Dr Yunus as a symbol of a new era, marked by significant student and public movements aimed at building an equal society. However, it also expressed profound sorrow and concern over the violent actions of certain groups against minorities, which have marred these achievements.