On Friday, approximately 30,000 members of the Hindu minority gathered in Chattogram to call on the interim government for protection from ongoing attacks and to urge the withdrawal of sedition charges against their community leaders.
The demonstrators, chanting slogans for their rights, assembled at a key intersection in the southeastern city, guarded by police and military personnel. Similar protests were reported in various locations across the country.
Since the beginning of August, Hindu groups have reported a significant increase in violence against their community, claiming thousands of incidents following the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s secular government amid a student-led uprising. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who assumed leadership of the interim government, has downplayed these claims, suggesting the numbers are inflated.
Hindus represent about 8% of Bangladesh's nearly 170 million population, with Muslims constituting approximately 91%. The influential Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has documented over 2,000 attacks against Hindus since August 4, amid the interim government's challenges in restoring order.
Concerns over human rights abuses in Bangladesh under Yunus's leadership have been voiced by United Nations officials and other advocacy groups. Many in the Hindu community feel inadequately protected, citing an increase in influence from hard-line Islamists since Hasina’s ousting.
The situation has garnered attention beyond Bangladesh's borders, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his concerns regarding the violence against minorities. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has indicated it is closely monitoring the human rights situation in the country post-Hasina, while presidential candidate Donald Trump condemned the violence, labeling it “barbaric.”
In his statement on X, Trump said: “I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.”
Hindu activists have been actively protesting in Dhaka and other cities since August, pushing for eight specific demands. These include the establishment of a law to safeguard minority rights, the creation of a dedicated ministry for minorities, a tribunal for prosecuting oppression, and a five-day holiday for the Durga Puja festival.
The recent rally in Chattogram was convened in response to sedition charges filed against 19 Hindu leaders on Wednesday, including notable priest Chandan Kumar Dhar, stemming from a rally held on October 25. Police detained two leaders, inciting further outrage among Hindus.
These charges relate to an incident where rally participants allegedly placed a saffron flag over the Bangladesh flag on a pillar, interpreted as a disrespectful act towards the national emblem.
Hindu leaders have characterized these legal actions as politically motivated and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the charges. Another rally is scheduled for Saturday in Dhaka.
In a parallel development, supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party and its ally, the Jatiya Party, have reported facing attacks as well. The Jatiya Party's headquarters was vandalized and set ablaze late Thursday.
G.M. Quader, the chair of the Jatiya Party, affirmed that his supporters will persist in advocating for their rights despite potential dangers. They plan to hold a rally on Saturday to address rising commodity prices and contest allegations against their leaders. However, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced a ban on rallies near the Jatiya Party’s headquarters, prompting the party to postpone their event out of respect for the law, with a new date to be announced soon.
