POBNEWS24, Dhaka Aug 29, 2024 : With the change of power in the politics of Bangladesh, the issue of security of minorities, especially Hindus, became very sensitive.
It has been seen in the politics of the last four decades, after the Awami League was defeated in the elections or after it was ousted from power, allegations of torture against Hindus came to the fore.
Political observers and leaders of various Hindu organizations say the first large-scale attack on Hindus in Bangladesh took place in 1992, during the demolition of the Babri mosque in India.
At that time, the BNP government was in power under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. Then large-scale attacks on Hindus took place after Awami League was defeated in the 2001 elections.
Soon after BNP won the election, Hindus were attacked in several districts of the country. However, the caretaker government led by Justice Latifur Rahman was in power at that time.
From the day the election results were announced to the BNP coming to power, there were attacks on Hindus at various places. Besides, several incidents happened even after BNP assumed power.
Behind these allegations were raised against many people involved in BNP politics.
The latest allegations of attacks on Hindus came after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5.
How many attacks have there been?
Jatiya Hindu Mahazot, an organization of Hindus, claimed through a statistic that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina, there were 278 attacks in 48 districts.
On the other hand, another organization called Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad claims that at least 205 incidents of minority torture have occurred in 52 districts.
An organization called ‘Minority Rights Movement’ has demanded the formation of a ‘Minority Commission’ to investigate the attacks on houses and places of worship of the Hindu community in different parts of the country.
However, it was not possible to verify the truth of the claims made by these organizations. However, how many of these cases were attacked due to religious identity, and how many attacks were carried out on people close to the government as part of anger, it was not possible to verify impartially.
However, a number of social media posts have been scrutinized, showing that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh, attacks on minorities have taken place, as have rumors of attacks.
Why the fear of Hindus?
Although there is a debate about the number of attacks that took place after Sheikh Hasina’s fall and escape, the atmosphere of fear and terror that Hindus are living in can be seen in various places.
Rana Dasgupta feels that a culture of impunity has been created in Bangladesh for attacks on Hindus. Those involved in these attacks have never been prosecuted in the past. As a result it cannot be stopped.
“They are the ones who pounce on Hindus who do not believe in religious coexistence.” He said this trend has been going on since the Pakistan era.
India, Hinduism and Awami League – these three issues are thought of in one line. Rana Das Gupta does not deny this fact.
Mr. Gupta admits that for the last 15 years, the Awami League has tried to eliminate the ‘discrimination of the past’ in the recruitment and promotion of government jobs.
The proportion of minorities in Bangladesh is eight percent of the total population. But he mentioned that the appointment and promotion were not in that proportion.
“When the minorities were seen, they started shouting again that the minorities are eating everything.”
He said, Hindus can never take a stand for religious nationalism.
Professor Nazmul Ahsan of Dhaka University said that Awami League and India benefited the most politically from attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
“Awami League has attacked many people and Hindus have good representation in Awami League. ”
But Rana Das Gupta, leader of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Parishad, refused to accept these words. He said that the attacks on Hindus this time have a communal dimension.
He said, there is no opportunity to give only political dimension to the matter.
“Absolute lies. Filmmaker Hrithik Ghatak’s house has been demolished. He was the leader of Awami League? Then why was his house demolished?” Rana Das Gupta raised the question.
Land is a big issue
Two non-governmental research organizations in Bangladesh said in a report that 70 percent of the violence against religious minorities in the country is land-based. And this violence manifests itself through the destruction of minority property or religious places of worship.
Bangladesh Peace Observatory (BPO) of Center for Alternatives (CA) has provided these data in June by analyzing various types of violence against minorities from 2013 to 2022.
Most of the violence against minorities has been against Hindus. Many common Hindus also think so.
Rajiv Kar, a resident of Comilla, told UNI that as the attacks are being done for political reasons, there is also a target of grabbing the property of Hindus.
After the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power in the general elections in 2001, a judicial inquiry commission was formed to investigate the allegations of attacks, killings, rape and looting and anti-humanity activities against the leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates and the people of the minority communities.
It was the chairman, Md. Sahabuddin, who is currently the President.
Although the Sahabuddin Commission received 25 thousand complaints, they scrutinized and accepted 5 thousand complaints. But the Hindu leaders say that they have not been tried. It is known that this commission was formed on the orders of HT Imam. He was the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political advisor. Mr. Imam died of Corona last year.
Political calculations
Dhaka World University Professor Mr. Kalimullah told UNI that there are two reasons why the issue of Hindus is sensitive in the politics of Bangladesh.
First of all; The communal issue is very strong in Bangladesh’s neighboring country India. Muslims are being subjected to various atrocities there. As a result, its impact is also falling in Bangladesh.
Secondly; Awami League was in power continuously for the last 15 and a half years in Bangladesh. They wanted to show that they were in favor of secularism and that the Islamic forces wanted to overthrow them.
“Based on this statement, India has sustained the Awami League for a long time. Is it to save Hindus or to sustain India’s interests?”
Dr. Khan feels that ‘anti-India’ has become strong in Bangladesh based on these issues, which has had an impact on Hindus.
“There is this feeling that India keeps the Awami League in power, there is also the feeling that India is Hindutva Desh, the Hindus of Bangladesh support the Awami League, this feeling is also there.”
He mentioned that when the political pot changes due to these reasons, “the anger of many people comes out”.
When the Awami League was ousted from power or defeated in the elections, BNP definitely came forward in the political arena.
There is no doubt that the attacks on Hindus put BNP in a negative position in the eyes of India.
BNP is quite active in the political field even though the interim government led by Professor Yunus took power after Sheikh Hasina fled.
BNP has always been blamed for attacks on Hindus, this time was no exception.
Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of BNP’s National Standing Committee, told UNI that Awami League always brings up the issue of minorities to make BNP politically uncomfortable.
He thinks that Sheikh Hasina fell through the revolution of students and she was forced to flee to India.
“One of the tools used to effect counter-revolution is minority persecution. We think it was in their plan,” said Mr. Ahmed.
There are several organizations of Hindus in Bangladesh. One party does not like the other. One organization openly criticized another organization at UNI.
“Since Hindus support Awami a little, Awami League is spreading a fear that because we are there, you are there, if we are not, you will not be there,” said Gobind Chandra Pramanik, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Mahajot.
