Tag: Bangladeshi Hindus

Bangladesh’s Secular Credentials At Stake

By Kunal Bose

The Muslims are in an overwhelming majority in Bangladesh. Their share in the country’s population of nearly 170 million is slightly over 91 per cent, the 2022 population and housing census says. At the same time, worryingly the percentage of minority population has continued to dip since the founding of the country in 1971 because of its persecution by fundamentalists, whose ranks are growing. Incidentally, the Hindus with 7.95 share of population are the largest of minorities that also include Buddhists, Christians and Ahmadiyyas.

Many in Bangladesh and outside are deeply anguished that even while secularism along with nationalism, democracy and socialism are the fundamental principles in the preamble of the Constitution, attacks on minorities continue to rise and violence perpetrators go unpunished. The earlier the new dispensation in Dhaka realises that remaining true to the fundamentals of secularism not only will create the right condition for a democratic and socialist society but the economy will also benefit immensely if all live in peace and harmony.

Five Indian states have a combined over 4,000 km long border with Bangladesh of which 916 km are still to be fenced facilitating illegal movements. The exodus threat of minorities, particularly the Hindus, will only grow if their persecution persists. And their natural destination remains India.

In any case much to its mortification, India today is surrounded by unfriendly, if not hostile, neighbours. Leave out the Himalayan kingdom Bhutan, which is more like Switzerland equally well disposed to every other nation, the rest of India’s other immediate neighbours having undergone regime changes in recent times have no love lost for the largest south Asian country.

The birth of Bangladesh ending the subjugation of Bengalis, their language, culture et al by an ever hostile and domineering Islamabad was a revolution with support from India. That country has come full circle with the dethroning of Sheikh Hasina that ended an unbroken 15-year rule by the Awami League.

The change in August came about through swelling street protests with students in the forefront. Their prime demand that reservation of jobs for the descendants of freedom fighters after all these years was beyond challenge. What, however, totally unacceptable was mob rule that saw ascendancy of Islamist forces that in no time torpedoed whatever remained of the secular character of Bangladesh. Image of the country got sullied in the process in the eyes of democrats and liberals around the world.

ALSO READ: Hindus Persecution In Bangladesh Vindicates Need For CAA

Even while the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel peace prize winner, continues to make unconvincing efforts to play down the persecution of minority communities, particularly the Hindus and the Buddhists, the world is aghast at secular living principles getting increasingly compromised in Bangladesh. Here it will be appropriate to quote from a report of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council that in the first 15 days of regime change, the Hindus and Buddhists were targets of as many as 2,010 attacks. Moreover, there were desecrations of Mazars (mausoleums of religious leaders), arson of Hindu temples and looting of minority properties. Harijan (dalit) colonies are not spared either by the newly energized Islamists.

The question now is whether New Delhi got the right inputs well in advance from its intelligence network that the new regimes in Sri Lanka, Nepal and finally Bangladesh would seek revision of equations with India. Perhaps not. If intelligence inputs were there well in advance of arrivals of crisis points, then New Delhi would have been better prepared to deal with the new situations in neighbouring countries instead of being taken by surprise. A nagging concern now is, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may all be pivoting away from India and seeking closer ties with China.

All the three countries are part of China’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) where the focus is on building infrastructure, road and port in particular. Infrastructure development requiring large investments is what these countries badly need. Though its BRI ambition has been scaled down of late due to its own economic woes and Beijing putting pressure on borrowing countries to properly service debts, including timely repayments, China has strategic compulsions to be accommodative when it comes to countries in the neighbourhood.

Such an analysis finds support in President Xi Jinping telling Nepal’s communist prime minister KP Sharma Oli during his recent three-day visit to its northern giant neighbour that China would help Nepal to be transformed from a land-locked to a land-linked country, facilitating trade. Furthermore, Xi gave Oli assurances of China’s continued support to Nepal’s economic development “to the best of its ability.” A secular trend among all the three countries is to pare their dependence on India signifying a greater degree of reliance on China for trade and economic cooperation. Incidentally, India happens to be the largest trading partner of Sri Lanka and Nepal, while it has the second largest share of Bangladesh trade, next to China.

At this point when disturbing developments are noticed across the world, leave aside India, one needs to read closely Yunus interview with Japanese Nikkei Asia for an understanding of Dhaka’s engagement in overhauling its foreign policy. The main thrust of the exercise is to undo many of the policy thrusts, especially close ties with India, of the Hasina regime. At the same he made it a point to describe China as a “friend,” which keeps on supporting “us in various ways from building roads, power plants and sea ports.”

Dhaka’s tilt towards Beijing is much in evidence. When it comes to India, Yunus appeared to give lip service as he said Bangladesh should have a “strong and cooperative relationship with India.” Sadly in the same breath, the interim government chief adviser made attempts to play down the seriousness of attack on minorities, religious leaders and places of worship to the disappointment of people across Bangladesh border.

Reacting to New Delhi’s rightful concern about the safety of Hindus, Yunus instead of being apologetic said: “Much of what’s being said about this issue is propaganda and not based on facts.” As the Hindus and Buddhists continue to live in fear, the Yunus statement is dismissed straightaway. A few days after the Nikkei interview, a US state department official visiting India expressed “deep concern about news of persecution of minorities emerging from Bangladesh.” Earlier, during the US Presidential election campaign and also afterwards, Donald Trump was unequivocal in condemning the violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

MPs from across the floor in the UK parliament have condemned the happenings in Bangladesh in strongest terms and urged the government to take diplomatic steps for protection of Hindus. In fact, Tory MP Bob Blackman has gone as far as describing the communal incidents in Bangladesh as an “attempt at ethnic cleansing.” The uncertain political situation in Bangladesh where life remains at risk finds expression in the recent UK government travel advisory telling its citizens not to travel to the south Asian country unless it is “absolutely essential.” The US travel advisory is no different. Both the Western countries will not rule out the possibility of “terrorist attacks” at any time.

That considerable sections of the Bangladeshi population are perceived as irreverent of faiths other than theirs is underlined by the UK advisory saying foreign nationals will be a risk in “crowded areas and at religious places and political rallies… Some groups (Bangladeshi) have targeted people who they consider to have views and lifestyles contrary to Islam.”

Now an ISKCON centre in capital city Dhaka has been burned down and its other establishments remain vulnerable to attack by religious zealots. Even while Sheikh Hasina as prime minister went on assuring safety and security of minority communities, the fundamentalists would not miss an opportunity to do harm to the Hindus.

No wonder, the Hindu population constituting over 20 per cent at the time of Independence came down to 7.95 per cent in 2022, when the last census was done. Will the Hindus and other minorities remain condemned to live in perpetual fear in Bangladesh or the international community be able to put pressure on Dhaka so that secular principles are upheld?

In other regional relations, Yunus called China “our friend”, saying, “From building roads and power plants to seaports, they’re supporting us in various ways”.

Hindu Persecution In Bangladesh Vindicates Need For CAA

By Prosenjit Nath

To the Lok Sabha, a historic invoice was once presented on December 8, 2019. Called the ‘Citizenship Amendment Bill,’ the law sought to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955. The amendment’s aim was once to furnish persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis Indian citizenship if they arrived in the US earlier than 2014.

What was once meant to be a noble initiative to assist Indic minorities was, unfortunately, dragged into the mud by way of vested activity groups. The Modi authorities used to be accused of being exclusionary in their imagination and prescient due to the fact there was once no idea to provide comparable citizenship advantages to Muslims from throughout the Indian subcontinent. The exclusion of Muslims would go on to become the largest factor of competition between the government, supporters of CAA, and those in opposition to it.

For motives quality recognized to those who antagonistic the law, no effort used to be made to recognize why Muslims located no point out in the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The regulation seeks to furnish Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, and different Indic minorities from three countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Do you recognize what is the frequent thread amongst these three countries? While Pakistan and Afghanistan are explicitly Islamic nations, Bangladesh, notwithstanding being a constitutionally “secular” republic, has viewed mass violence and persecution of non-Muslim minorities, mainly Hindus.

The rivalry of these opposing CAA additionally falls flat on its face when one considers the implications of which include Muslims in CAA. Will that now not clear the deck for complete populations from these nations making use of Indian citizenship? However, logic used to be abandoned very early on in what would eventually become India’s “anti-CAA agitation.”

Remember, CAA has been the sufferer of some of the worst misinformation campaigns over the previous 5 years. While CAA has nothing to do with depriving humans of citizenship or disenfranchising Indian citizens, that is precisely what the BJP was once accused of attempting to do with the law. What is in actuality a device to right historic injustices used to be spun as a political device that would be used alongside NRC to especially goal Indian Muslims. That was once why mass protests broke out towards CAA in 2019 and 2020.

Indian Muslims have been particularly focused on misinformation campaigns that sought to inflame their sentiments, triggering violent agitations throughout the United States of America and even main to riots in North East Delhi. Remember the protests at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi and how violence was once strategically timed with Donald Trump’s go-to to India? It was once all based totally on the false narrative that as soon as CAA is implemented, Indian Muslims will be requested to show their citizenship, and if located lacking, will be transported to deportation camps.

No Indian Muslim has been denied the right to vote in the five years that have gone by. Rather, the CAA’s desire has become much more apparent. Hindus in Bangladesh are currently fighting for their lives. Islamist mobs have been on a rampage in the US on account of Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Even with her in power, it would take a miracle for Hindus to take a look at a peaceable Durga Pujo in Bangladesh. With her gone, all safeguards that minorities in Bangladesh loved have been systematically eliminated. Now, the streets are dominated by mobs on the lookout for Hindus, who are being painted as traitors to Bangladesh.

According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council — an umbrella physique of spiritual minorities in the USA — there have been 200 documented assaults on Hindus in the three days following Hasina’s ouster, in which 5 Hindus had been killed and rankings suffered grievous injuries. Many greater such cases, say leaders of the council, have long gone unreported. Transparency International Bangladesh has recorded 2,010 instances of assaults on Hindus between August 5 and 20, in which 9 Hindus had been killed. In addition to the assaults on Hindus, their homes, businesses, and several temples, about five hundred Hindu police officers, teachers, and authority officers have been compelled to resign using Islamists throughout the country. Apart from Hindus, numerous Buddhists and Christians have additionally come under assault in Bangladesh ever due to the fact Muhammad Yunus took over the country.

The scenario in Pakistan and Afghanistan does now not require an awful lot of elaboration. Non-Muslim minorities face power threats in each of these Islamic nations. Only in October, for instance, Hindus in Pakistan’s Sindh province have been residing in worry as some influential human beings threatened them with dire penalties in the wake of a supposed “blasphemy” incident.

While the lies surrounding the CAA have been exposed, the plight of minorities in neighboring international locations has underscored the legislation’s necessity. The fears propagated with the aid of the naysayers have been established as baseless. Instead of the imagined disenfranchisement of Indian Muslims, what has grown to be evident is the actual and ongoing persecution of minorities in neighboring nations. The CAA used to be designed as a compassionate response to this persecution, and its significance has only grown over time.

Unfortunately, due to a huge misinformation marketing campaign established towards the law, its implementation was once delayed. CAA regulations solely received notification in March this year, simply in advance of the Lok Sabha elections.

Apart from vindicating India’s choice to provide citizenship to non-secular minorities fleeing Islamist persecution from throughout the neighborhood, the persevering assaults on Hindus have also mounted a robust case for the cut-off date of CAA to be achieved away with. Presently, solely these folks who arrived in India earlier than 2014 are eligible to be given citizenship. However, persecution of spiritual minorities continues unabated in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Therefore, there is a pressing want to rescue Indic minorities who are nevertheless dwelling in these three countries. To do so, the Indian authorities need to rid the Citizenship Amendment Act of its cutoff date of 2014. As the pre-eminent democracy in the subcontinent, India has to make certain safety for those who have nowhere else to go. India wishes to provide hope to humans whose lives are being torn aside with the aid of systemic persecution.

Hindus in Bangladesh Push Back Persecution

By Prosenjit Nath

The Hindu minority in Bangladesh has long faced systemic persecution, a history marked by sporadic violence, land grabs, and deep-rooted social discrimination. For years, the community has endured these injustices in silence, fearing further violence or retaliation from state and non-state actors. Yet, the growing tide of religious intolerance in the country has pushed many Hindus to break their silence and demand justice. One such event that galvanized the community was the recent arrest of Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu, a prominent Hindu leader and spiritual figure in Bangladesh. His arrest, which occurred under contentious circumstances, has sparked widespread protests and renewed calls for greater protection of Hindu rights in the country. The arrest of such a revered figure, amid increasing instances of violence against Hindus, highlights the deeply entrenched challenges that the Hindu minority faces in Bangladesh and the rising determination of the community to push back against their oppression.

Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu, an influential leader and a staunch advocate for the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh, has been at the forefront of promoting Hindu unity and addressing the concerns of his community. As the head of a religious institution that supports education, spiritual guidance, and social welfare for Hindus, he has been instrumental in providing a voice for those who have felt marginalized and oppressed. Over the years, Prabhu has consistently raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly their exposure to targeted violence and institutional discrimination. His activism and vocal criticism of the political and religious climate in the country have made him a target for both extremist elements and certain sections of the political establishment.

The arrest of Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu came amid a climate of escalating violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly following incidents where Hindu temples, homes, and businesses were attacked. These attacks were often attributed to religious extremists who sought to stoke sectarian tensions in a predominantly Muslim country. The trigger for Prabhu’s arrest was an alleged inflammatory speech that was accused of inciting communal hatred. While Prabhu’s supporters argue that the charges are politically motivated and meant to silence his activism, the Bangladeshi government contends that his statements were a threat to national harmony and peace. Regardless of the truth behind the accusations, Prabhu’s arrest has served as a catalyst for an unprecedented wave of protests across the country, signaling a tipping point for the Hindu community’s long-standing grievances.

For decades, Hindus in Bangladesh have silently endured numerous forms of persecution, with little recourse for justice. The history of their marginalization traces back to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, following the country’s independence from Pakistan. In the aftermath of the war, the Hindu community found itself increasingly targeted as scapegoats, facing land confiscations, discrimination in employment, and attacks on religious sites. Over time, this climate of hostility only worsened, particularly with the rise of religious extremism and political Islamism. The government’s inability or unwillingness to address these grievances left the Hindu population feeling vulnerable and marginalized.

The attacks on Hindu religious sites, particularly during the annual Durga Puja festival, have been particularly shocking. These incidents are not isolated but reflect a broader pattern of abuse, where temples are vandalized, statues of Hindu deities are desecrated, and individuals are attacked for simply practicing their religion. What is perhaps more disturbing is the impunity with which these acts are carried out. In many cases, local authorities have either failed to intervene or have been complicit in these acts of violence, making it difficult for the Hindu community to seek justice. Despite this, Hindus continued to bear the brunt of such attacks with little resistance, largely out of fear of reprisal.

The arrest of Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu has acted as a wake-up call for many Hindus who have quietly endured these abuses for years. His arrest not only raised concerns about the freedom of speech and religious expression in Bangladesh but also highlighted the deep-rooted inequities faced by Hindus in the country. It quickly became clear that the issue was not simply about one individual’s arrest but a broader problem of institutionalized discrimination against religious minorities. The protests that erupted in the wake of his detention were not just about Prabhu’s release but about asserting the rights of Hindus to live without fear and to practice their religion freely.

ALSO READ: Muhammad Yunus – Walking A Tightrope

The protests have been widespread and diverse, with Hindus from different walks of life participating. Students, activists, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens have taken to the streets, demanding not only the release of Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu but also greater protections for the Hindu community. Demonstrations have occurred in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, and other major cities, where people have marched, held sit-ins, and raised slogans against the increasing persecution of Hindus. The protests have been organized under the banner of religious freedom, equality, and justice, with participants calling for stronger legal protections for religious minorities and more accountability for those who engage in violence or hate crimes.

In response, the government of Bangladesh has attempted to quell the protests, citing concerns about maintaining public order and national security. Police forces have been deployed to disperse the crowds, and in some cases, protesters have been detained. While some members of the government have called for calm and dialogue, the overall response has been largely dismissive of the grievances of the Hindu community. The lack of a constructive dialogue between the state and the protesters has only deepened the sense of alienation among Hindus, many of whom feel that their voices are not being heard by those in power. For many, the arrest of Prabhu is symbolic of the broader struggle for recognition and justice that Hindus in Bangladesh face on a daily basis.

The increasing protests represent a significant shift in the way the Hindu community in Bangladesh engages with the state. For years, many Hindus had accepted their marginalized status as a consequence of their minority position in the country. However, the events surrounding Prabhu’s arrest have sparked a new sense of empowerment among the community, who are no longer willing to accept their status as second-class citizens. This shift is a reflection of the growing awareness that the community cannot continue to endure violence and discrimination without seeking justice. In this context, the protests have become not just a call for the release of one individual, but a larger demand for the recognition of Hindu rights and the establishment of a more inclusive society.

International attention has also been drawn to the issue, with human rights organizations and foreign governments expressing concern over the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh. Reports from groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have highlighted the discrimination faced by Hindus, calling on the Bangladeshi government to take concrete steps to protect religious minorities. However, the government has largely ignored these calls, and international pressure has yet to result in any significant changes on the ground. Still, the global spotlight on the situation may offer some hope for the Hindu community, as international advocacy can sometimes lead to greater accountability and scrutiny of human rights violations.

The arrest of Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu is a turning point in the struggle for Hindu rights in Bangladesh. While the immediate focus has been on his release, the larger issue at stake is the protection of religious freedom and the rights of minorities in the country. As protests continue to grow in size and intensity, it is clear that the Hindu community is no longer willing to remain silent in the face of extreme cruelty. The demand for justice, equality, and respect for religious diversity is now a central issue in Bangladesh’s political discourse, and it is one that the government will no longer be able to ignore. The fate of Chinmaya Krishna Prabhu and the larger movement for Hindu rights in Bangladesh will be a critical test of the country’s commitment to human rights and religious freedom. In the coming months, the situation will likely continue to evolve, with the potential for further protests, government action, or even international intervention to address the concerns of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. Regardless of the outcome, the events surrounding Prabhu’s arrest have set the stage for a new chapter in the struggle for minority rights in Bangladesh.

‘Violence Against Hindus Sad But I Have Faith In Hasina Govt’

By LokMarg

Banani Mukherjee Das (35), a PR professional from Kolkata, says India can take a lesson or two from its neighbours to make the minority communities feel safe

I have been watching the events unfolding in Bangladesh ever since the controversy erupted during Durga Puja this year beginning from Comilla. Many people have lost their lives and many a Hindu homes and businesses have been attacked. Be it any religion at the receiving end, I feel sad that people continue to fight and even hurt and kill one another over religious beliefs. More so because my family has its roots in Bangladesh. We belonged to Dhaka before my grandfather shifted to India.

It seems we haven’t learnt any lessons from the pandemic? In raging Covid days, people across the world had transcended barriers of caste, creed, religion etc. to help each other in the name of empathy and humanity. All that camaraderie looks frayed now.

There are reports that Hosain Iqbal, the main perpetrator was of an unsound mind and didn’t realise the consequences his actions would carry. But couldn’t the security have been strengthened, given it is such a huge festival, in fact the biggest festival for Bengali Hindus? And even if one person placed the Quran and then spread rumours about it, why were others so quick to believe and get enraged? The undercurrents of discomfort between communities are there in most parts of the world, they come to the surface only occasionally though.

Das says minority communities can contribute a country’s growth only when they feel safe

I must add that the spirit of syncretism is alive and thriving in Kolkata and will continue to be so. According to me, Mamata Banerjee has ensured that the seeds of hatred cannot be sown in Bengal, especially Kolkata. Like Didi, I feel that the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina or in other words, most women leaders often try to douse the fire of hatred rather than fan the flames.

People across the world are unequivocally praising Bangladesh’s handling of the whole incident, and condemnation from the civil society as a singular voice. I also like how she handled the whole Rohingya crisis which could have been avoided by another woman leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

ALSO READ: Attacks On Hindus In Bangladesh Amid Pujo Is Shocking

Recently there was this case in Pakistan also when a Hindu temple was attacked and the Pakistani government also acted swiftly. Perhaps India could learn a lesson or two about how to handle the rights of minorities and that they should not be scared of being who they are. There have been reports that Bangladesh has overtaken India in GDP per capita, and has better employment opportunities, especially for women. India is below Bangladesh in the Hunger Index as well. I believe Bangladesh has learnt its lesson that hatred doesn’t help a country and its people thrive, only a few people benefit from spreading hatred.

When minorities are respected and feel safe, they feel freer to contribute to their maximum potential and it benefits the country at large. I loved how Sheikh Hasina said that Hindus had contributed equally in Bangladesh’s freedom fight and the same goes for India’ s freedom struggle.

I hope we can sustain the lessons we have learnt from the pandemic and not give in to hatred. We should not lend weight to rumours either. If the pandemic has taught us anything it is that we all survive when we help each other survive. There is always a place for love.