Are Hindus in Bangladesh Under Attack?
A protest march was held in Chittagong on 22nd July against the attacks on the Hindu community and the ongoing killing of them.
Hindu Organizations all across Bangladesh held protests against the attack on the Hindu community in the country. Homes of Hindu minorities were set on fire on 15th July in the Sahapara area, Narail district. The anti-Hindu mob started setting houses on fire after Friday prayers on 15th July, saying that an 18-year-old man from the neighborhood had hurt their religious feelings on Facebook.
According to locals, the post was made by Akash Saha, an 18-year-old college student in the village. They gathered after Friday prayers and protested in front of the student's house, demanding his arrest. However, later the mob spread to neighboring homes of Hindu minorities after it found out that the boy was missing from his home. One of the victims whose house was burned down told the local media, "After one group looted all our valuables, another group came and found our door open. As there was nothing left to loot, they set our home on fire." "I don't know how long this threat of violence will haunt us. Who will give us justice? Who will give us security? If I was in the house while they set it on fire, I would have died. God saved me. But is this any way to survive? All I have now is the sari on my body," she added.
Moreover, the police detained Akash's father, Ashoke Saha to "bring the situation under control", while they prepared to file a case under the Digital Security Act against Akash.However, so far, none of the attackers has been arrested yet, as reported by the local media.
After the incident of attacks on Hindu minorities and protests conducted by the Hindu groups, Hindu Sangbad, which is a Bangladeshi news agency wrote on Twitter, "Demonstrations by various Hindu organizations across the country were also held peacefully in protest against the radical Jihadi attack on Hindus in Sahapara." A protest march was held in Chittagong on 22nd July against the attacks on the Hindu community and the ongoing killing of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Earlier, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the government will ensure strict action against people who disturb communal harmony in the country. The Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also directed the Home Ministry to investigate the attacks and determine whether there was negligence in preventing them. The NHRC also said that violence in a "secular country" is not acceptable under any circumstances.
