Wikipedia

2024 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence

Violence in Bangladesh

After Sheikh Hasina stepped down on August 5, 2024, there were attacks on homes, shops, and temples of the Hindu community. The Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that from August 4 to August 20, there were 2,010 attacks on minorities, including 69 temples, in only 16 days. In these attacks 157 families' homes were damaged, looted, destroyed, or burned and some of their shops were damaged and looted as well. 9 Hindus were killed in 15 days during these attacks, of whom 2 of them were confirmed to be members of the Awami League.

Background

change

The quota reform movement in July 2024 was a strong protest against the government, which finally took the Awami League government out of power.[1][2] Over the years, all major political parties of the country have caused violence against Hindus. This the Jatiya Party did in 1990, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 2001, Jamaat-e-Islami in 2013,[3] and BNP and Jamaat together in 2014.[4][5][6] Due to that, these parties lost the support from the Hindu community.[7] Awami League was seen as the last hope for secularism and was thought to protect the Hindu minority[8][9] despite several attacks happening during its time in power.[10][11]

Attacks

change

After Hasina left, many attacks happened against Hindus in Bangladesh. The attacks included damage to temples, homes, and shops owned by minorities. There were also reports of theft and killing in many parts of the country.[12]

A report by Prothom Alo from August 5 to August 20, 2024, showed that 1,068 attacks occurred in 49 districts. Most attacks took place in Khulna, where at least 295 homes and shops were damaged. Other places also suffered: 219 in Rangpur, 183 in Mymensingh, 155 in Rajshahi, 79 in Dhaka, 68 in Barisal, 45 in Chattogram, and 25 in Sylhet. In some areas, the damage was very bad, but in others, it was not so much. Two Hindus died, and there was a total of 912 attacks. In at least 506 cases, the victims supported the Awami League. Prothom Alo reporters found 546 damaged houses and shops, 51 percent of all the destruction.[13]

Minority groups reported 2,010 acts of violence across the country from August 4 to August 20, 2024. Nine people were killed. A total of 1,705 families were affected. Of these, 157 families had their homes and shops attacked, robbed, destroyed or burned. Some families also lost their land because it was seized by force.[14][15] An investigation by Netra News on October 30 found that some of the killings did not seem linked to religion.[16]

Police sources said that from August 5 to August 9, after the Awami League government ended, there were 47 events near puja mandaps. These included 30 idols and temples being damaged, 4 robberies, 3 fires, and 10 other cases.[17] From October 1 until now, police reported 35 events linked to Durga Puja in Bangladesh. They arrested 17 people and filed about 12 cases.[18][19]

At a press meeting by the Bangladesh Chhatra Oikya Parishad, a group for minorities, it was said that 49 minority teachers had to leave their jobs between August 5 and August 31.[20] One of the teachers, Haripada Das from Chandpur, said his house was attacked and looted on August 5, after the government changed. He and his family barely got away. While his family returned home, he did not. He has often been told to leave his job, and he is afraid to go back to work. But the government has told him to return to his college tomorrow.[21]

At the same time, 252 Hindu police officers lost their jobs. Now, there are no Hindu Sub-Inspectors (SI) in Bangladesh.[22][23][24]

The Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, said there had been 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh from 2024 until December 8.[25][26]

References

change
  1. ↑ Ganguly, Sudipto (2024-08-07). "Why did Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resign and where is she now?". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  2. ↑ "Why did Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resign and where is she now?". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  3. ↑ Ahmed, Anis (2013-02-28). "Bangladesh Islamist's death sentence sparks deadly riots". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  4. ↑ Habib, Haroon (2014-01-09). "Will act against those attacking minorities: Sheikh Hasina". The Hindu. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  5. ↑ "Minorities targeted in Bangladesh political violence". The New Humanitarian. 2014-01-31. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  6. ↑ "Hindus under threat". The Daily Star. 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  7. ↑ Rozario, Rock Ronald (2017-10-02). "Why Bangladeshi elections are a time for violence against minorities- UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  8. ↑ Fides, Agenzia (2024-12-22). "ASIA/BANGLADESH -". Agenzia Fides. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  9. ↑ Sun, Daily (2023-06-23). "Awami League – A Beacon of Hope". daily-sun. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  10. ↑ "8 Awami activists get death for murder of Hindu man". The Hindu. 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  11. ↑ "21 BCL men indicted". The Daily Star. 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  12. ↑ Hasnat, Saif; Nauman, Qasim (2024-08-07). "Hindus in Bangladesh Face Revenge Attacks After Hasina's Ouster". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  13. ↑ "Communal violence: 1068 houses and business establishments attacked". Prothomalo. 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  14. ↑ Report, Star Digital (2024-09-19). "2,010 communal attacks in Bangladesh since August 4 to 20: Oikyo Parishad". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  15. ↑ "Report: 2,010 incidents of communal violence occurred from August 4 to 20 in Bangladesh". Dhaka Tribune. 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  16. ↑ Shatil, Aaqib Md (2024-10-30). "Claims of communal atrocities in 9 Hindu deaths falter under scrutiny". Netra News — নেত্র নিউজ. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  17. ↑ হাসান, মাহমুদুল (2024-10-10). "দুর্গাপূজা: প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর, চুরি, ঢিল নিক্ষেপ ও মারামারির ঘটনায় গ্রেপ্তার ৮". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  18. ↑ "35 untoward incidents related to Durga Puja in Bangladesh since October 1; 17 arrested: police". Deccan Herald. 2024-10-12. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  19. ↑ "35 incidents related to Durga Puja in Bangladesh since Oct 1, 17 arrested". Business Standard. 2024-10-12. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  20. ↑ Report, Star Digital (2024-08-31). "At least 49 minority teachers forced to resign since Aug 5". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  21. ↑ সংখ্যালঘু সম্প্রদায়ের ৪৯ শিক্ষককে পদত্যাগে বাধ্য করা হয়েছে [49 teachers from minority communities forced to resign]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 31 August 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  22. ↑ ছাত্রলীগ নিষিদ্ধ ও ২৫২ এসআই নিয়ে যা বলছে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র [What the U.S. says about the ban on Chhatra League and the 252 sub-inspectors]. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  23. ↑ মার্কিন ব্রিফিংয়ে ক্যাডেট এসআইদের অব্যাহতি প্রসঙ্গ [Cadet SIs’ dismissal discussed in the U.S. briefing]. মার্কিন ব্রিফিংয়ে ক্যাডেট এসআইদের অব্যাহতি প্রসঙ্গ (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  24. ↑ ছাত্রলীগ নিষিদ্ধ-এসআই নিয়োগ বাতিল নিয়ে যা বললো যুক্তরাষ্ট্র [What the U.S. said about the Chhatra League ban and the cancellation of SI recruitment]. Jago News 24 (in Bengali). 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  25. ↑ "2,200 in Bangladesh, 112 in Pakistan: Government on violence cases against Hindus in neighbouring countries". The Times of India. 2024-12-20. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  26. ↑ "2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, says Govt". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024_Bangladesh_anti-Hindu_violence&oldid=9965698"