https://sputniknews.in/20240822/over-100-hindus-killed-in-bangladesh-amid-mounting-sexual-violence-ngo-8045484.html
Over 100 Hindus Killed in Bangladesh Amid Mounting Sexual Violence: NGO
Over 100 Hindus Killed in Bangladesh Amid Mounting Sexual Violence: NGO
Sputnik India
Over 100 Hindus have been killed in Bangladesh between 1 July and mid-August, largely as a result of "coordinated attacks" by Islamist mobs. The main goal of the campaign is to "force" Hindus to either covert or flee Bangladesh.
2024-08-22T18:10+0530
2024-08-22T18:10+0530
2024-08-22T19:58+0530
political affairs
sheikh hasina
bangladesh
india
united kingdom (uk)
the united nations (un)
terrorism
bangladesh nationalist party
human rights
human rights violations
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e8/08/16/8052864_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_cba0dd1ea2dbfacd24defc129436d4b5.jpg
The spate of religious and politically-motivated violence against Bangladeshi Hindus, who constitute nearly 8% of the population, has not subside in spite of recent appeals by Chief Advisor of the Interim Government Muhammad Yunus, human rights activist Sushanta Das Gupta, founder chairman of social voluntary organisation 'Amar MP' and 'Bangladesh Genocide Archive' platform, told Sputnik India.The human rights activist said that the "surge in violence surpasses previous unrest in both severity and scale", adding that targetting of Hindus "escalated rapidly" immediately after Hasina's ouster. He noted that other groups such as Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council have already documented nearly 250 attacks against Hindu businesses, temples and homes, a figure he warns could be higher.Gupta said that the radical mobs have been further emboldened by the "insufficient response" from the Bangladeshi Army and police.The interim government has "publicly condemned the violence but effective measures to control it" have not been taken yet, he added. The expert believes, "the lack of a robust response has contributed to a pervasive atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the Hindu population."Further, Gupta said that Amar MP volunteers and workers in Bangladesh have been in touch with members of the minority community in all the 64 districts of the country.All the three killings took place in violent mob attacks in Barisal (7 August), Sylhet (8 August) and Khulna (9 August), the report says. Meanwhile, the sexual assault cases took place in Cumilla (6 August), Rangpur (8 August) and Dhaka (10 August). Additionally, "six police officers belonging to the Hindu community, an Awami League politician and a journalist have also been killed in separate incidents in recent weeks," Gupta said.Gupta stated that the anti-Hindu campaign has been orchestrated through physical attacks, vandalism of properties and temples, forced resignations of higher education professionals and a campaign of online harassment.Gupta claimed that many Hindus, his organisation have been in touch with, reported to have fled their homes due to "threats" from neighbours or mobs. However, the officials are determined to normalise the circumstances.Gupta's conclusions come against the backdrop of a United Nations (UN) fact-finding team visiting Bangladesh to probe violence during the student protests in early August, as announced by Yunus last week. The UN Human Rights Office said in a preliminary report released last week that around 650 people were killed in Bangladesh during the recent riots.
https://sputniknews.in/20240815/india-worried-about-safety-of-hindus-in-bangladesh-pm-modi-8015834.html
bangladesh
india
united kingdom (uk)
south asia
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2024
Dhairya Maheshwari
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e6/0c/13/138962_0:0:641:640_100x100_80_0_0_2cb44360dbcdf6d84bf4b299cd045917.jpg
Dhairya Maheshwari
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e6/0c/13/138962_0:0:641:640_100x100_80_0_0_2cb44360dbcdf6d84bf4b299cd045917.jpg
News
en_IN
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Dhairya Maheshwari
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e6/0c/13/138962_0:0:641:640_100x100_80_0_0_2cb44360dbcdf6d84bf4b299cd045917.jpg
bangladesh hindu population, bangladesh hindu news, bangladesh hindu, bangladesh hindu killed, bangladesh news, bangladesh protest, hindus in bangladesh, attaks on hindus, hinduphobia, genocide against hindus, south asia news
bangladesh hindu population, bangladesh hindu news, bangladesh hindu, bangladesh hindu killed, bangladesh news, bangladesh protest, hindus in bangladesh, attaks on hindus, hinduphobia, genocide against hindus, south asia news
Over 100 Hindus Killed in Bangladesh Amid Mounting Sexual Violence: NGO
18:10 22.08.2024 (Updated: 19:58 22.08.2024) Over 100 Hindus have been killed in Bangladesh between 1 July and mid-August, largely as a result of "coordinated attacks" by Islamist mobs, a Bangladesh NGO in touch with families of the victims has told Sputnik India. The main goal of the campaign is to "force" Hindus to either covert or flee Bangladesh.
The spate of religious and politically-motivated violence against Bangladeshi Hindus, who constitute nearly 8% of the population, has not subside in spite of recent appeals by Chief Advisor of the Interim Government Muhammad Yunus, human rights activist Sushanta Das Gupta, founder chairman of social voluntary organisation 'Amar MP' and 'Bangladesh Genocide Archive' platform, told Sputnik India.
"The violence appears to be driven by a combination of political retaliation and sectarian aggression. Although the exact orchestrators are not explicitly identified, evidence points to mobs associated with opposition factions, including Islamist groups with a history of hostility towards minorities, leading the attacks. These groups have capitalized on the power vacuum following Hasina's departure (on 5 August) to target those linked with her secular government, particularly Hindus, who largely supported the Awami League," stated Gupta, currently residing in the United Kingdom (UK).
The human rights activist said that the "surge in violence surpasses previous unrest in both severity and scale", adding that targetting of Hindus "escalated rapidly" immediately after Hasina's ouster. He noted that other groups such as Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council have already documented nearly 250 attacks against Hindu businesses, temples and homes, a figure he warns could be higher.
Gupta said that the radical mobs have been further emboldened by the "insufficient response" from the Bangladeshi Army and police.
He claimed that "although the military has called for cooperation", it has not managed to "provide the necessary security to prevent the targeted attacks on Hindu communities."
The interim government has "publicly condemned the violence but effective measures to control it" have not been taken yet, he added. The expert believes, "the lack of a robust response has contributed to a
pervasive atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the Hindu population."
Further, Gupta said that Amar MP volunteers and workers in Bangladesh have been in touch with members of the minority community in all the 64 districts of the country.
A recent report by Gupta documenting widespread violence in the country between 1-10 August showed that that three Hindu women were raped, three men killed and nearly 72 Hindu establishments were torched by mobs within the ten day-period.
All the three killings took place in violent mob attacks in Barisal (7 August), Sylhet (8 August) and Khulna (9 August), the report says. Meanwhile, the sexual assault cases took place in Cumilla (6 August), Rangpur (8 August) and Dhaka (10 August). Additionally, "six police officers belonging to the Hindu community, an Awami League politician and a journalist have also been killed in separate incidents in recent weeks," Gupta said.
Moreover, the report also reveals that increasingly, forced by mobs principals, vice-chancellors, professors and educational staff hailing from the Hindu community had to resign from their positions. At least 22 such instances have been documented in the report during the first ten days of the month.
Gupta stated that the anti-Hindu campaign has been orchestrated through physical attacks, vandalism of properties and temples, forced resignations of higher education professionals and a campaign of online harassment.
"The modus operandi involves coordinated attacks by mobs who often act with impunity due to the lack of effective law enforcement. The attacks appear to be both politically and religiously motivated, with the ultimate goal being to intimidate and marginalize the Hindu population, forcing them to either flee or convert, thereby reducing their presence in Bangladesh," he stressed.
Gupta claimed that many Hindus, his organisation have been in touch with, reported to have fled their homes due to "threats" from neighbours or mobs. However, the officials are determined to normalise the circumstances.
"The situation remains volatile, with the interim government struggling to establish control and provide security for all its citizens," the expert concluded.
Gupta's conclusions come against the backdrop of a United Nations (UN) fact-finding team visiting Bangladesh to
probe violence during the student protests in early August, as announced by Yunus last week. The UN Human Rights Office said in a preliminary report released last week that around 650 people were killed in Bangladesh during the recent riots.
