THE continuous attacks on Hindus and other minorities like Buddhists in Bangladesh are causing widespread concern. Consequent to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in the first week of August after a mass movement, it was expected that the end of her authoritarian rule would usher in a more democratic system in Bangladesh. However, in the chaos of the first few days, reports of attacks on some Hindu temples and houses of the minority community emerged across the country. The chief advisor of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, had at that time assured that minorities would be protected. But incidents have occurred in the period since then. So far, there have been 2,000 documented acts of violence and at least nine members of minority community have been killed. 

The current aggravation of the situation took place when Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk, was arrested and charged with sedition. Chinmoy Das had earlier been associated with ISKCON, but had been removed from it and is now heading the Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote. Even if he has been expressing militant views, the charge of disrespecting the Bangladesh national flag as the cause for his arrest on sedition charges appears to be heavy handed.  When Das was presented in court and denied bail, there was a clash between the police and his followers. An assistant public prosecutor was attacked by the mob and killed. This incident shows how precarious the communal situation is at present.

The response of the interim government and its spokespersons has been to downplay these attacks by claiming that these were exaggerated reports. They have sought to portray it as an outcome of the public anger against the Awami League activists and supporters. They tend to see the hand of the Indian government behind this anti-Bangladesh campaign. The Yunus-led government is making a mistake by trying to ignore the attacks mounted on the minorities by the Islamist forces. 

The anti-India sentiment that exists because of the Modi government’s backing of the Sheikh Hasina regime is being utilised by the Islamic fundamentalist forces as a cover to attack the minorities. With the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami lifted and its leaders out of jail, the fundamentalist outfits like Hefazat-e-Islam are having a free run to target Hindus and to create a communal divide. Even during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, such fundamentalist forces were actively working against the minorities. The interim government and the democratic forces in Bangladesh have to assert and firmly put down the communal elements who see an opportunity to establish their sectarian politics.

The attitude of the BJP-RSS and the various Hindutva outfits in India are not helping to address the situation in a proper manner. Wild and incendiary propaganda about the plight of Hindus across the border is seen by the Bangladeshi authorities and democratic circles as an attempt to intimidate and tarnish Bangladesh’s new political order. Demonstrations conducted in Kolkata, Agartala and Guwahati by Hindu extremist groups outside Bangladesh Consulates using vitriolic language have further aggravated the situation. The incident in Agartala, where demonstrators of the Hindu Sangharsh Samiti entered the premises of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission and vandalised property will only harden anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh. The fiery rhetoric against Bangladesh will endanger the security of the minorities in Bangladesh. 

The people of Bangladesh will look askance at the Indian rulers preaching to them about protecting minorities, when they themselves have set an odious record in persecuting and baiting minorities.  Public opinion in Bangladesh is affected by the constant rhetoric against Bangladeshis by top Indian leaders. Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, had during the Jharkhand election campaign made false and dire warnings about large-scale Bangladeshi infiltration into Jharkhand. Earlier, such infiltrators were called `termites’ by him.

It is necessary for the secular and democratic forces in both countries to assert that divisive communal politics harms the interests of both countries. It is for the secular and democratic forces in Bangladesh, who had fought against Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, to stand up and assert that the country is safe for the minorities and their rights as citizens will be fully protected. 

(December 4, 2024)