Atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh

Shantanu Mukharji

There has been no abatement in the cases of highhandedness against the Hindu or Buddhist minorities in Bangladesh. As it is, these minuscule communities are steadily dwindling due to a section of aggressive, intolerant, and radicalized majority Islamic activists who continue their violent activities targeting the minority lot by vandalizing and desecrating their places of worship and dwellings.

The most recent act of hate and vandalism perpetrated (August 7) in Rupsa (district Khulna) witnessed the destruction of four Hindu temples, Hindu houses and shops in village Shiyali. Such a shameful act of brazen violence was carried out in full public view by an estimated more than a hundred communal miscreants.

Although the police arrived on the scene after the incident was reported, Hindu leaders in Bangladesh fail to understand the inertia on part of the police and the intelligence to prevent this condemnable act. Meanwhile, according to the local villagers and activists of the Hindu Puja Parishad, on August 6, a group of women Hindu worshippers were walking towards the Hindu cremation ground by singing Kirtans. On way, the Imam of a nearby located mosque objected to this practice causing tension.

Police is thought to be not proactive in addressing the growing tension and allowed it to spiral out of hand and thus emboldening communal elements to carry out the wanton attacks on the Hindu properties including shops and places of worship. Many Hindu houses also saw plunder and assault on several temples including the desecration of a Hindu idol right at the crematorium site.

While the police claim that things are under control, the Hindu population in and around this place is reeling under a sense of fear and insecurity. Knowledgeable sources tell that this is perhaps an unprecedented incident where Hindus came under communal assault vitiating the calm and interfaith harmony in this district. Though miscreants have not yet been identified it is quite a pointer that Islamic perpetrators practising bigotry, are behind this violence of hate.

As we discuss this fresh incident of religious intolerance in Bangladesh, it appears imperative to recapitulate that soon after Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi’s visit to Dhaka, earlier this year the Islamic zealots went on a rampage in many parts of Bangladesh against Hindus. Recently, the district of Brahmanbaria saw horrendous scenes of defacement of the birthplace and music academy named after the internationally acclaimed musician, Ustad Alauddin Khan.

The Sheikh Hasina government did criticize it yet it was too late. The authorities claimed that such vandalism was masterminded by outfit, Hefazat -e- Islam. This 11-year-old radical Islamic organization has gained notoriety in Bangladesh by trying to create regressive public opinion by calling for destructions of statues and implementation of medieval laws in the country. Riding high on its iconoclastic ideology, it even vandalized the statue of the country’s Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Ironically, the vandalism followed Modi’s departure from Dhaka where he had gone to participate in the centenary celebrations of the Sheikh Mujib and celebrations of 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence in which India’s contribution remains etched in history. Even the peaceful Buddhists living in Bangladesh for years have also not escaped the wrath of the communal forces. On 26 July, village Falaharia (sub-district Rangunia) close to the Myanmar border, witnessed the destruction of a 17 feet high Buddha statue inside Boudha Bihar.

This particular Boudha Bihar was built in 2012 and ever since any attempts to decorate the place with Buddhist signs or flags were met with violent resistance by the radicals. Their ruse was that the Muslims should not walk under any flags or posters of other religions. The Buddhist leadership in Bangladesh approached Sheikh Hasina on this. Nothing changed and people continue to fear the return of the Muslim radicals to their village anytime. Even Buddhists believe that local supporters of Hifazat-e-Islam are behind the vandalism.

Besides, the Hindus and the Buddhist minority constitute adequate vote bank for the ruling Awami League and they enjoy a fair degree of confidence and trust from the ruling quarters. This trust should not lead to a trust deficit. Besides, while, Bangladesh is being praised for its economic achievements, such incidents give the country an image of an intolerant Muslim country.

The government could consider roping in several progressive, secular and forward-thinking NGOs and individuals to instil confidence among the minorities. After all, Bangladesh has no dearth of peace-loving citizens who can contribute to communal harmony.

(Writer is a retired IPS officer, a security analyst and a former National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. Views are personal)