Dhaka: Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh‘s interim government, has described the reported attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh as “exaggerated” and criticised India for its portrayal of the situation. Yunus argued that the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are more politically motivated than communal. He suggested that the violence stems from political turmoil rather than religious conflict, noting a perception that many Hindus supported the recently deposed Awami League regime.
“I have said this to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi also that this is exaggerated. This issue has several dimensions. When the country went through an upheaval following the atrocities by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them also faced attacks,” Yunus told.
The violence against the Hindu minority included vandalism of businesses, destruction of temples, and other attacks following the student-led unrest that erupted after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5. Hasina fled to India amid the unprecedented anti-government protests.
“Now, while beating up Awami League cadres, they had beaten up Hindus as there is a perception that Hindus in Bangladesh mean Awami League supporters. I am not saying that what has happened is right, but some people are using it as an excuse to seize property. So, there is no clear distinction between Awami League supporters and Hindus,” Yunus explained.
Yunus, who had his first direct contact with New Delhi last month after assuming office, assured Prime Minister Modi that Bangladesh would prioritize the protection of Hindus and other minorities. Modi reiterated India’s support for a democratic and stable Bangladesh and emphasized the importance of safeguarding minority communities.
Hindus, who represented 22 per cent of Bangladesh‘s population during the 1971 Liberation War, now make up about 8 percent of the 170 million population and have largely supported the Awami League, known for its secular stance.
Yunus criticised India for its portrayal of the attacks, stating, “These attacks are political in nature and not communal. And India is propagating these incidents in a big way. We have not said that we can’t do anything; we have said that we are doing everything.”
In his Independence Day address on August 15, Modi expressed hope for a return to normalcy in Bangladesh and reassured that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of minorities there.
Yunus expressed a desire for strong relations with India but urged New Delhi to move away from the narrative that Bangladesh would become another Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina. He stated, “India is captivated by this narrative. India needs to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is just another neighbour.”
He further added, “The issue of trying to portray the conditions of minorities in such a big way is just an excuse.”
Yunus advised members of the Hindu community to view themselves as citizens with equal rights rather than solely identifying as Hindus. He said, “Even when I met members of the Hindu community, I had requested them: please don’t identify yourselves as Hindus; rather, you should say you are citizens of this country and you have equal rights. If someone tries to snatch your legal rights as citizens, then there are remedies.”
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Thousands of Hindus protested in Dhaka and Chattogram on August 10-11, demanding protection amid widespread vandalism. The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance also reported attacks and threats against Hindus across 48 districts since the government’s fall, describing it as an “assault on the Hindu religion.”
Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh Not Communal, Issue ‘Exaggerated’: Muhammad Yunus world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World News Today
