Hindus in the Cross-fire

Atrocities against minorities, especially Hindus, have spiked in Bangladesh since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina regime on Aug 5.

- Arkamoy Datta Majumdar

Every violent, popular insurrection that ousts an authoritarian government leaves behind innocent victims caught in the crossfire. In Bangladesh, which saw the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5, the blow—physical attacks, looting, property-grabbing, arson—has fallen disproportionately on its minorities, especially the Hindus. It has sparked protests by them in Bangladesh and raised concern in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, on August 16, expressing concern about the matter. Now, there are attempts to have a reckoning of sorts. Members of the Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council—the largest umbrella organisation of religious minorities in Bangladesh—are collating details of communal violence. It claims that between August 5 and August 8, over 200 incidents of communal persecution took place across 52 districts of the country. But these are conservative numbers based on preliminary information; incidents of violence against minorities over three weeks are estimated to number nearly 1,500, say sources. Even as Yunus has repeatedly stressed on ensuring security for minorities and advocated religious harmony, the Council claims little has changed on the ground.