Lakhs of Hindus took to the streets in Bangladesh on Saturday to protest against continued attacks on the community after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India.
Millions of people attended massive rallies in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, and the country’s second-largest city, Chittagong.
Members of Bangladesh’s Hindu community took part in the protest and blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka
Photo Credit: PTI
Members of minority communities in violence-hit Bangladesh have faced over 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts since the fall of Ms Hasina-led government on August 5.
Hundreds of Hindus are believed to have been injured in attacks on their homes and businesses.
Several Hindu temples have also been vandalised and so far at least two Hindu leaders associated with Ms Hasina’s Awami League party have been killed in the violence.
Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus are also trying to flee to neighbouring India to escape the violence.
Popular Indian restaurant ‘Santoor’ was vandalised and set on fire in Dhaka on Saturday.
Photo Credit: AFP
A rally of Hindu protesters demanding establishment of special tribunals to expedite prosecution of those guilty of atrocities on minorities, allocation of 10 per cent parliamentary seats for minorities, implementation of Minority Protection Act, etc blocked traffic at Shahbagh in central Dhaka for over three hours.
Thousands of Muslim protesters, including students, also joined them, expressing solidarity with the minorities.
A massive gathering was held at the historic Cheragi Pahar Square in Chittagong.
Hindus held a huge protest rally in Chittagong
Photo courtesy: IANS
According to some reports, more than seven lakh people attended the rally.
Bangladesh interim leader expressed concern over attacks on Hindus
Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Saturday condemned attacks on minority communities in the violence-hit country, calling them “heinous”.
Nobel laureate Mr Yunus urged the students who were at the forefront of the protests to protect all Hindu, Christian and Buddhist families from harm.
The 84-year-old stressed the need for national unity, saying, “Are they not the people of this country? You are able to save the country; can you not save a few families?… You should say – nobody can harm them. They are my brothers; we have fought together, and we will remain together.”