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Sitting on a tinderbox: There is a deeper story to the anti-Hindu riots in Bangladesh

The tale of Bangladesh goes far beyond double-digit growth figures
Sitting on a tinderbox: There is a deeper story to the anti-Hindu riots in Bangladesh
Sitting on a tinderbox: There is a deeper story to the anti-Hindu riots in Bangladesh

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS Bangladesh is once again in the spotlight for alleged torture of its minorities—the Bengali Hindus. This is not the first time that aggression against minorities is being reported in Bangladesh, one of India’s most volatile neighbouring countries. For the last five decades, the population of Hindus living in Bangladesh have gone down from 25 per cent to a miniscule seven per cent. What made the attacks headline-worthy this time was the violence faced by international organisations like ISKCON and Ramakrishna Mission. Ramakrishna Mission is in the hearts and minds of even elite Bengalis. So, this time, even intellectuals of West Bengal are on the streets, protesting. The UN and the US have also condemned the attacks on Hindus. But, the issue is not so simple. It needs to be delved into deeper.

The minority persecution has been ongoing in Bangladesh, ever since the gruesome murder of Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, in 1975; however, this time, India has expressed a full-throated condemnation, not just from the 'nationalist' BJP, but from almost all political outfits. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, so far, has refrained from making any statement.

India’s outburst was more calculated and reactive this time as it never expected such incidents under the rule of Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Rahman. Be it Hindu or Muslim, Indians could not digest the fact that under the rule of Hasina, who was sheltered by the Indian government for decades after her father was dethroned and murdered, Bengalis could kill Bengalis in Bangladesh based on communal passion. Scores of Hindu Durga temples were vandalised, more than 150 houses of Hindus were reduced to ashes in different parts of Bangladesh, including Noakhali (where Mahatma Gandhi visited before independence to control communal violence), Kushtia, Coomilla, and Cox's Bazar.

Hasina’s statement on the occasion of Durga Puja came as a shocker for India as well. She cited some communal incidents in India, hinting at Assam, as having an influence on the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh. In one way, Hasina’s comments highlighted a clear admission of fact that she would be unable to contain the radicals unless India helped her.

Recent internal security reports of Bangladesh have stated that the country houses several homegrown radical groups, despite the fact that the Hasina government has cracked down heavily on terror groups. According to the same reports, the rate at which Bangladesh has gone radical is the highest in South Asia. In fact, it ranks higher than even Pakistan in that metric. And with radicalism came more attacks on minorities, including Hindus. Said a former minister of the Hasina government: “I can tell you that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is as unpopular in Bangladesh as in Pakistan, if not more.”

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