Bangladesh’s interim government chief Mohammad Yunus on Saturday condemned the attacks on violence-hit minority communities. He described the attacks on minorities as heinous and urged all the youth to ensure the safety of Hindu, Christian and Buddhist families.
According to Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and Bangladesh Puja Udyapan Parishad, two Hindu organisations, members of minority communities in Bangladesh have faced attacks in at least 53 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5. Faced at least 205 incidents. Also, to escape the violence, thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus are trying to go to the neighboring country India.
“There are many people standing ready to ruin your efforts. Don’t fail this time,” Yunus said while addressing students at Begum Ruqaiya University in Rangpur city, Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
Yunus unequivocally condemned the attacks on minority communities in the country, calling these attacks “heinous” and urged all students to protect minority Hindu, Christian and Buddhist families from harm.
We have fought together and will remain together: Yunus
Emphasizing on the unity of the nation, he said that are they not the people of this country, you are capable of saving the country. Can’t you save some families? You have to say that no one will harm them. He is my brother, we fought together and we will stay together.
Emphasizing the importance of youth leadership, Yunus said that this Bangladesh is now in your hands. You have the power to take it wherever you want, it is not a matter of discussion, it is a power within you.
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‘Remember student leader Abu Saeed’
He also urged the people of Bangladesh to remember student leader Abu Sayeed who stood bravely during the anti-government protests that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Saeed, 25, of Rangpur’s Begum Ruqaiya University, was killed in police firing during an anti-discrimination student protest on July 16.
Hindu organizations demonstrated
Thousands of Hindu agitators, including students, demonstrated at Shahbagh intersection for the second consecutive day on Saturday to protest against attacks on their homes, shops and temples in different parts of the country, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
They chanted slogans like “Save Hindus,” “Why are my temples and houses being looted? We want answers,” “Hindu oppression will not continue in independent Bangladesh,” “Religion is for individuals, state is for all”, And raised slogans like “Ensure the safety of Hindus”.
According to community leaders in Dhaka, many Hindu temples, houses and businesses were vandalized. Women were attacked and at least two Hindu leaders belonging to Hasina-led Awami League party died in the violence.
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The protesters warned that if immediate steps were not taken to stop the oppression of Hindus, they would continue to protest.
They also demanded formation of a ministry for minorities, establishment of Minority Protection Commission, making and implementing strict laws to prevent all types of attacks on minorities and allocating 10 percent parliamentary seats for minorities.
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Yunus took oath on Thursday
According to The Daily Star newspaper, Yunus took oath as the head of the interim government on Thursday. He met Saeed’s family members in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur.
After meeting Saeed’s family, he told the media, “We have to stand the way Abu Saeed stood…Abu Saeed’s mother is everyone’s mother. We have to protect him, protect his sisters, protect his brothers. Everyone will have to do it together.
He said that we will remember him (Abu Saeed) through this. So we should make sure that we do that (necessary) work.
Yunus said, Abu Saeed is no longer just a member of a family. He is the child of all the families of Bangladesh, the children who will grow up and go to school and college, they will know about Abu Saeed and will say to themselves, ‘I too will fight for justice. Abu Saeed is now in every house.