Violence against Hindu communities in Bangladesh has increased following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's departure. The interim government has promised quick action to safeguard religious minorities amid attacks on Hindu properties since her exit.
The violence though has sparked outrage, with thousands taking to the streets on Sunday in protest. Demonstrators, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune, decried the destruction of homes, the encroachment on temple lands, arson, looting, and other forms of aggression targeting the Hindu community. One speaker at a rally in Bogra voiced the frustration and fear of many: “We are appalled by the attacks on Hindus, the torture, and the vandalism of temples. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure our safety. We are citizens of this country and deserve to live securely.”

“The recent attacks on religious minorities are a matter of grave concern,” the interim cabinet said in its first official statement on Sunday, following the swearing-in of its members on Thursday night. The cabinet emphasized its commitment to working with representative bodies and relevant groups to "immediately find ways to resolve such heinous attacks."

In the past, Hasina's Awami League received considerable support among Hindus, who make up the majority minority group in Bangladesh. These communities have become more vulnerable as a result of her sudden resignation and departure for overseas. Under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, the interim administration has pledged to address the rising violence and expressed grave concern over these attacks. The military has been deployed with a no-shoot policy to ensure safety and stability of the Bangladeshis. The Coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Protest also called upon the student community to protect the minorities and temples. This was met with a showering of support from every local community who came forward to protect the peace and stabilize the situation.

The interim government's statement outlined several urgent priorities in response to the ongoing crisis. Among them was the provision of support for the families of those killed during the protests that have rocked the nation since July, which culminated in Hasina’s resignation. The unrest has claimed over 300 lives, and the interim government has directed public funds to assist those injured during the demonstrations.

Numerous News medias and agencies outside Bangladesh have been trying to push the narrative of Bangladesh being an unsafe place for the Hindu community, using fabricated news, past images being recycled to incite anger within the Hindu communities around the world. Our contact on the ground stated “The violence happening right now is unjust without a doubt, but what the Indian news channels and twitter spammers are showing are not true, they are rumors. This movement has always been against discrimination and the people are working to tackle these delinquents who want to terrorize the people and create divide between us.”

Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, spoke to Al Jazeera saying that Hindu temples were protected and no Hindus were killed. However, he noted that many Hindu homes and businesses were attacked by mobs in over 20 districts across the country. 
“But those Hindus were associated with the Awami League party and they were not attacked because of their religious identity, rather because of their connection with Awami League,” said Pramanik. “I haven’t heard any news that a regular Hindu family without any political connection was attacked anywhere.”

Bangladesh is currently in a stable transition, the interim government's ability to protect vulnerable communities and steer the country towards stability is commendable, The task ahead is daunting, but the council's commitment to addressing these urgent issues and the Unity of the students to create a Bangladesh free of discrimination offers a glimmer of hope for the nation’s future.

BOB Post