Bangladesh’s Yunus To Meet Hindu Leaders As Interim Govt Vows To Punish Vandals Who Desecrated Temples

Bangladesh’s interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus and other members of the interim govt said steps will be taken to address violence faced by Hindu minorities. (Image: Reuters)

Bangladesh’s interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus will meet Hindu Bengali community leader to address their fears as attacks on Hindus continue in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus is set to meet Hindu Bengali leaders on Tuesday as the interim government vowed to punish vandals who desecrated places of worship belonging to minorities and carried out loot and arson attacks.

Khalid Hossain, religious adviser to the interim government, said those who attacked places of worship belonging to minorities are ‘thugs’ and that they would be forced to pay penalties for the damages caused.

“The ministry of religion has been on the side of religious minorities in the past, continues to and will remain so in the future,” Hossain was quoted as saying by Prothom Alo.

He told the outlet that district administrators are collecting lists of desecrated places of worship. He also said that a hotline is being launched to deal with such cases.

He said the ministry of home affairs will take action in these cases.

Hindu Bengalis, Adivasis Continue Protests

Mashiahati Regional Durga Puja Celebration Committee held a protest rally in Jessore’s Abhaynagar to protest against the attacks against Hindu minority communities.

A large section of women also joined the protests demanding safety and security of minorities. “We were shocked to see the way in which Hindu houses, temples, businesses were being attacked, vandalised, set on fire and looted. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of these,” a protester told Prothom Alo.

Adivasi groups also held a protest march in Rajshahi to protest the attacks, arson, looting and torture of minorities across the country. Adivasi Parishad held the protest outside Rajshahi’s Shaheed Minar. “Houses of minorities have been burnt all over the country,” an adivasi leader speaking to Prothom Alo said, adding that despite supporting the movement, they have borne the brunt of the violence.