Spooked By Trump 2.0, Bangladesh's Yunus Govt Targeting Hindus To Keep Hasina Out: Sources to News18

Last Updated:November 07, 2024, 18:13 IST

After Sheikh Hasina's departure, said the sources, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government is concocting cases against Hindus. There is a bid to ban Hindu organisations in Bangladesh, including ISKCON and other prominent groups, they added

Bangladesh's ousted PM Sheikh Hasina (L) and interim leader Muhammad Yunus. (File image: AFP)

The targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh is primarily aimed at indirectly attacking ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, top Indian intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Thursday.

Facing international pressure and the new US administration led by Donald Trump, the Muhammad Yunus-led government is in a state of alarm and seeks to prevent Hasina’s return at all costs, they said.

Following Hasina’s congratulatory message to Trump on his election win, sources said the Awami League has become active in Dhaka and is advocating for her immediate return.

After Hasina’s departure, said the sources, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government is concocting cases against Hindus.

There is a bid to ban Hindu organisations in the country, including ISKCON and other prominent groups, they added.

“A false Hindu representative was sent to UN commissions," said a source. “The Yunus government apprehends international pressure to reinstate Hasina.

Targeting Hindus and other communities will incite unrest. Fabricated news is circulating on social media to malign Hindus."

The army and police are collaborating with radical Islamists in Bangladesh, the sources said.

Out of 200 apprehended individuals, over 100 Hindus have disappeared, they added.

According to the sources, the objective behind this strategy is to generate sufficient tension to imprison Hindus and impose long-term bans on organisations like ISKCON under various pretexts.

“The aim is to dismantle the pre-existing support for Hasina among Hindus in Bangladesh, who acknowledge that their safety was largely due to her leadership," a source said.

Hindus, constituting approximately 8% of Bangladesh’s population, have historically supported Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party.

There has been recent unrest in Bangladesh over ISKCON. A Facebook post criticising ISKCON ignited confrontations between the Hindu community and police in Chittagong.

The situation deteriorated, prompting a joint operation involving the police and army.

Certain individuals and groups, including an outfit called Inqilab Manch, have been advocating for a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh.

News world Spooked By Trump 2.0, Bangladesh's Yunus Govt Targeting Hindus To Keep Hasina Out: Sources to News18