Protesters were meticulously checking identity cards and searching vehicles to identify government affiliates...
Digital Desk: Bangladesh witnessed a surge in violence and unrest following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday. Scattered reports emerged of attacks targeting Hindu communities across the country, with unverified social media videos depicting minority places of worship engulfed in flames. This turmoil marked a sharp escalation in the crisis that has gripped the nation.
The violence began on Sunday when demonstrators targeted an ISKCON temple and a Kali temple, alongside Hindu homes in Bangladesh.
Haradhan Roy, a Hindu councillor from the Rangpur City Corporation, was reported among the casualties of the violence. The unrest reached a crescendo with Hasina fleeing the country and arriving in India on Monday. Protesters stormed her official residence, Gono Bhaban, in Dhaka, and supporters of Hasina and members of her party, the Awami League, faced attacks from demonstrators. Reports indicate that protesters were meticulously checking identity cards and searching vehicles to identify government affiliates.
The violence echoes events from 2021 when protests erupted following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh. That unrest led to attacks on Hindu temples and clashes with law enforcement, resulting in at least 11 deaths.
Islamist groups had accused Modi of discriminating against Muslims in India, and Hasina’s close ties with India drew criticism from various Bangladeshi factions. Modi's visit included offerings at the Jeshoreshwari temple and announcements for a community hall for worshippers, which only fueled tensions.
The recent unrest began in June 2024 with protests against the Bangladesh High Court’s reinstatement of a 30 percent job quota for veterans’ families from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Violence erupted on July 15 after Hasina’s derogatory remarks about protesting students, referring to them as “Razakars,” a term with contentious historical connotations. By July 21, the Supreme Court intervened, mandating that 93 percent of government jobs be merit-based, with the remaining 7 percent reserved for veterans’ families, minorities, and persons with disabilities. The turmoil resulted in over 200 deaths and thousands of detentions, with the Internet shut down and shoot-on-sight orders issued.
The violence continued unabated, leading to nearly 100 more deaths on Sunday. The government imposed a curfew and declared a public holiday from Monday to Wednesday. Amidst this chaos, Hasina’s departure and the announcement by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman regarding the formation of an interim government have added to the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s future.
Leave A Comment