Hundreds of homes, businesses and temples belonging to minority Hindus have been vandalised since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a community association said on Tuesday, and Mainly Hindu India said it was concerned by the incidents.
Hindus make up about 8% of Bangladesh's 170 million people and have historically largely supported Hasina's Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, rather than the opposition bloc that includes a hardline party.
Neighbouring India, which now hosts Hasina after she fled deadly protests on Monday following 15 years in power, said what was “particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples were also attacked in multiple places”.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) said 200 to 300 houses and businesses, mainly Hindu, had been vandalised since Monday and 15 to 20 Hindu temples damaged. Up to 40 people were injured, although not seriously, its general secretary Rana Dasgupta said. Reuters.
“The mass atrocities broke out hours before she resigned,” he said. “Although there were no deaths, there were injuries. The homes and businesses of minorities, especially Hindus, as well as temples, were looted and damaged.”
Dasgupta said some people he could not identify threw a brick at his car while he was on the road on Monday in the southeastern district of Chattogram.
“I stand against the atrocities committed against the communities and I will not stop,” she said. “I will fight for them until my death. I may not be able to protect them physically, but I can give them courage. I may not be able to resist attacks, but I can protest.”
Reuters The extent of the reported incidents amid the post-Hasina turmoil could not be verified and police officers did not respond to calls for help. Reuters Seeking comment after mobs attacked many police stations.
“The situation is dire,” said Manindra Kumar Nath, a leader of the Hindu community. “Even today, we are receiving calls from people asking us to save their lives, but we are not getting any kind of help from anywhere.”
The military's press office said security forces were helping maintain law and order across the South Asian nation, without specifying any incident.
“We appreciate everyone's cooperation in this regard,” he said in a statement.
The students who led the protests against Hasina, which have killed nearly 300 people since July, have repeatedly urged people not to attack minority communities in the predominantly Muslim country. But Hindu community leaders said they felt vulnerable because of the lack of a functioning government.
The army chief has promised an interim government soon, while students have said they want Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus as a senior adviser to the interim government.
