Are minorities in Bangladesh under attack?

By Mohammad Tariqur Rahman

Let me begin with the bottom line of this discussion, “any form of violence against any kind of minorities, irrespective of their race, religion, or political affiliation is unacceptable and deserves an utter condemnation”

The recent student-led anti-discrimination movement ended in a Mass uprising in Bangladesh that eventually forced Sheikh Hasina – the former PM of Bangladesh – to flee to the neighboring country India on 5th August 2024. Sheikh Hasina has been given a temporary stay in India while other countries such as the USA and the UK did not respond positively to her call for permanent shelter. Notably, the number of accusations against Sheikh Hasina for extrajudicial crackdowns and killings of hundreds and thousands of people including opposition political activists is increasing. That includes a complaint to the investigation agencies of the International Criminal Court.

Years of anger and frustrations of the mass people in Bangladesh reached a boiling point where men, women, and children came on the street to echo the one-point demand of the student movement – the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as the prime minister. Sheikh Hasina attempted to resist it by force which eventually killed more than 500 hundred deaths including more than 30 children in less than a month of movement from 15 July until 5 August 2024.

The country was in chaos, at least for three days, after the forced Hasina’s resignation because of the withdrawal of the law enforcement agencies to do their duties. Hundreds of policemen including top officials went into hiding for their fear of being victims of mass outrage. For more than a decade, the Bangladesh Police was accused of being an “auxiliary force” of the ousted ruling party – Awami League (AL).

Once Sheikh Hasina resigned, people did not hesitate to massacre anything and everything that is connected to her legacy and her party – that ironically included the highest Government properties such as the Parliament building.

Numerous incidents of looting, robbery, and burning of houses and properties belonging to leaders and supporters of AL were observed amidst the crisis of law and order in the country. Most, if not all, were targeted against the leaders and supporters of AL. It is a fact that the majority of Hindus in Bangladesh support and favor AL. Hence, to become a victim of the people’s outrage was not entirely because of their religious affiliation rather, it was ignited against their political affiliation with AL.

However, sporadic incidences of burning of very few Hindu temples during the outrage testifies to targeted violence purely for religious affiliation too. Soon after such incidents were reported, in the absence of police force in their duties, people from all sects including students and Islamic faith-based political parties guarded houses and temples of Hindus in Bangladesh. Abundant news and videos are available showing those protections.

Student leaders and leaders of all political parties strongly denounced any violence against any minorities. Furthermore, representatives of the association of minority religious groups gratefully acknowledged the efforts of students and mass people to guard their lives and lands.

Yet certain India-based online portals and media continued their series of disinformation propaganda to defame and discredit the mass uprise in Bangladesh. It is worth mentioning that many of the AL leaders who were ministers of parliament members of the ousted Government are now being prosecuted for murders, money laundering, and violence against innocent citizens.

The ulterior motive behind the targeted disinformation could be aimed to discredit the victory of the people against Hasina’s fascist regime. The targeted disinformation also defames the image of the interim Government led by Noble Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. In response to such defamation, Muhammad Yunus told Indian PM Modi that the reports of attacks on minorities are not only ‘exaggerated’ but also he invited Indian journalists to visit the country and see it by themselves. Such a bold statement testifies the intention and efforts of Muhammad Yunus against any violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

It is not unlikely that the Indian Government is upset about the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. On several occasions, ministers of Sheikh Hasina’s government openly declared their obedience to the Indian Government. Even after the ouster, Sajib Wajed Joy – Son of Sheikh Hasina – requested India to “pressure” Bangladesh to hold an election within 90 days. Joy did not hesitate to make such a request after a series of inconsistent statements that included his desire to withdraw from politics and a claim that her mother did not resign hence is still the lawful PM in Bangladesh.

It is also not unlikely that peace-loving people around the world including Malaysians who raise their voices through a peaceful demonstration in front of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Ampang (Kuala Lumpur), against any violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

If not politically motivated, they are concerned about the safety and security of the minority groups in Bangladesh. However, it would be wiser to check facts, if their demands are based on any exaggerated or disinformed media reports. Or else, this would add to the anger of the people of Bangladesh who have rightfully developed a perception that India helped and supported a fascist government for more than 15 years in Bangladesh.

In fact, along with their demand for the safety and security of Hindus, the peace-loving Malaysians should have stood by the people of Bangladesh who went through a dictatorial regime of Sheikh Hasina where many practicing Muslims – being accused of anti-independent force – were tortured and marginalized.

Surely, people in Bangladesh who came out of fascism do not want to see their neighbor as their enemy only because the neighboring government had a good term with the ousted former PM Sheikh Hasina.

The author is a Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, and the Deputy Executive Director of INPUMA, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at tarique@um.edu.my