Hindus flee Bangladesh locality after temples attacked, cops turn blind eye

Extremist groups in Bangladesh attacked two temples and assaulted members of the minority community in Chittagong, forcing Hindus living in the area to flee to safer shelters. Several shops were also targeted near the Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong after Friday prayers.

Sources said the Radha Govinda and Shantaneswari Matri Temple were targeted by extremists from the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh ist Party (BNP). The incident happened while a march was being held in the area demanding a ban on the Hindu religious outfit Iskcon.

The police and the Army personnel did not come to the rescue of the Hindus and remained mute spectators, eyewitnesses said. The locality is predominantly Hindu, with 90% of the population belonging to the community. Several members of the community have fled the locality fearing an escalation of violence.

There has been a string of incidents of desecration and damage to Hindu temples and deities in Bangladesh since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August. Over 200 temples have been targeted, as per reports.

The arrest of a Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, for sedition has only added fuel to the fire. Chinmoy Das's arrest has triggered massive protests from the Hindu community and led to clashes with security personnel.

Iskcon has also been targeted, with a petition in the High Court demanding its ban. The Bangladesh government has called it a "religious fundamentalist organisation". However, the court has declined to ban the global organisation.

Noting the increasing incidents of violence against minorities, the Indian government said it was the responsibility of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to protect the life and liberty of Hindus in Bangaldesh.

"India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric. We call upon Bangladesh to take steps for the protection of minorities," the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

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