Bangladesh: The immediate task of the interim government
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The extreme turmoil in our neighboring country, Bangladesh, following the student protest against Hasina Wajid-led Awami League government, has immensely worried the Indian people and the government. The developments in the country after Hasina stepped down on August 5, taking refuge in India with her family, have comforted those have been anxiously watching the situation. Bringing great relief, expatriate Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus returned to Dhaka responding to the calls of the protesters and formed an interim system including technological experts, prominent social figures and student representatives. Its agenda is to restore peace as soon as possible alongside facilitating free and fair elections. The downfall of Hasina, who was friendly with India, has saddened this country; no matter who is in power, we want relations with the neigbouring country normal, peaceful and friendly. Bangladesh’s interim government has made it clear that Hasina’s stay in India will not affect bilateral relations between the two countries. The statement by Touhid Hossain, advisor to the foreign affairs department of Muhammad Yunus that India is a good friend of Bangladesh gives reason for optimism. India's approach even with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which is facing sanctions from the international community for its completely bigoted stance, is cooperation rather than hostility.
However, the reports of attacks on Awami League-supporting Hindu and Buddhist religious minorities and their institutions and places of worship following the anti-government agitation has caused great concern and protest in India, which is no small matter. In a letter to the interim government the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council has pointed out that there have been 205 attacks on religious minorities in 52 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina government. There is no doubt violence and intrusion on minorities must be condemned and stopped immediately. Muhammad Yunus has already condemned the attacks on minorities. It is reported that the police, responsible for law and order, stayed out of streets creating opportunity for the attackers. News agencies reported that police began appearing for work since Monday ending the strike and shops and establishments have reopened. With this, incidents of violence have also reduced. However, responsible media outlets in India report about alarming news circulating in the country that minorities in Bangladesh are facing huge threat and are leaving the country en masse, flowing to the Indian borders. In today's situation, this propaganda is not unusual for numerous reasons. A news and accompanying picture circulating on X shows a Hindu temple in Thakurgaon district being attacked by Islamists. However, India Today fact check reveals that it was the picture of Muslims themselves vandaliszing a Sufi dargah in Jessore District. One of the main false propagandas is that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is at the forefront of vandalizing Hindu temples. Is it true? In the news accompanying the picture of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders visiting Dhaka's Dhakeshwari National Temple with Hindu leaders, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman states: 'This country is all ours. We have no right to impose one's religion on another. There is no difference between majority and minority here. We are all Bangladeshis. We all have equal rights regardless of religion.'
Two Hindu leaders of the Awami League were killed in the riots. But the truth is that those killed include more Muslim leaders. It is political, not communal. It does not mean that anti-social elements did not use the opportunity to fish in the troubled waters. The interim government is responsible to arrest such people and ensure peace for the people of Bangladesh, including the religious minorities. In a speech to the students of the Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur Mohammad Yunus indicated that he took responsibility knowing the responsibility fully well.
