Dividing lines

The treatment of minorities will continue to stir Bangladesh's politics and shape its ties with India

- FARID HOSSAIN

THE ATTACKS ON Hindu houses, businesses and temples after the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 have left the members of the community devastated and traumatised. Many of them still wonder what their fault was, as they were targeted despite being the sons and daughters of the soil. Many members of the community, especially university students, were actively involved in the July uprising that forced Hasina to step down. Is it because Hindus in general have a soft corner for Hasina's Awami League? Or is it because they belong to a different community? Hindus account for a little more than 8 per cent of the Muslim-majority country's 170 million people.

After the attacks, Dhaka's two mass circulation dailies, the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, published separate reports detailing the incidents of the violence on the basis of the findings of their reporters. According to the Prothom Alo, attacks on Hindus happened in 49 districts. Its reporters saw 546 damaged houses and business establishments, and found evidence of at least 1,068 damaged houses and business establishments. In addition, 22 places of worship came under attack.

Most of the attacks took place in the country's southwestern division of Khulna. There were many attacks in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions, but fewer incidents in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. At least two members of the minority community were killed-Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee, a retired schoolteacher, in Bagerhat Sadar, and Swapan Kumar Biswas in Khulna.