Minority Groups Hold Protest In Dhaka Over Violence, Demands Meeting With Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus

A minor clash also occurred between the army personnel and the members of the Hindu community protesting with posters of their family members who went missing during the violence.

Bangladesh Hindu community members participate in a protest and block the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka.

Source : PTI

Members of the minority community held a protest in Bangladesh over the recent violence that unfolded ever since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5.

The minority Hindu community gathered outside the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka where Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government, is staying.

The protestors held posters of their family members who went missing during the violence in the country.

#WATCH | Bangladesh: A minor clash occurred between the Army personnel and the members of the minority Hindu community protesting with posters of their family members who went missing during the incidents of violence in the country.

(Visuals outside Jamuna State Guest House in… https://t.co/icbW4VzTWC pic.twitter.com/3Rb7a0aiAC

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2024

A minor clash also occurred between the army personnel and the members of the Hindu community protesting with posters of their family members who went missing during the incidents of violence in the country.

The protestors demanded that Yunus meet them and provide assurances that the atrocities against their community would cease.

Earlier today, Yunus met with representatives of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, as well as officials from the temple management board and said each one's rights should be ensured and blamed institutional decay for the predicament that his country has fallen into. He was accompanied by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain.

"In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements. That is why such issues arise. Institutional arrangements need to be fixed," Yunus said. 

Yunus also convened a meeting at the Jamuna state guest house, which was attended by all the advisors.

The meeting was over the recent violence including attacks on minority Hindu, future direction of Bangladesh and restoring peace in the country, officials said. 

The apex body of Hindus in Bangladesh has said the community faced attacks and threats in 278 locations across 48 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance members also pointed to the increase in attacks in recent times and asserted, “We too have rights in this country, we were born here.” 

“As of Monday, there have been attacks and threats against the Hindu community in 278 locations across 48 districts. We have conveyed our concerns to Home Affairs Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, who has assured us that these issues will be raised at the next cabinet meeting,” Palash Kanti Dey, the Alliance's spokesperson and executive secretary said.