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    Religious minorities in Bangladesh under fire

    European Newsdesk Posted on

    After the  Prime Minister of Bangladesh Shiekh Hasina fled the country, non-Muslims have reported facing attacks in the predominantly Islamic nation reported Nirmala Caravallo for Cruxnow.

    With around 90 percent of its 170 million citizens being Muslim, Bangladesh has small minority populations: 7.95 percent Hindu, 0.6 percent Buddhist, and just 0.3 percent Christian, numbering about 500,000 people. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled on Monday, led the Awami League, a secular party largely supported by non-Muslims wrote Caravallo.

    Protests against Hasina’s government began in early July, initially driven by university students demanding the abolition of civil service job quotas. Top defense officials gave Hasina just 45 minutes to pack and leave.

    [READ: Bangladesh in flames as Shiekh Hasina flees]

    Following Hasina’s departure, Hindu and Christian sites and businesses were attacked due to their perceived support for the Awami League. India’s Hindu nationalist government expressed concern. “What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses, and temples also came under attack at multiple locations,” India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar reported to the Indian parliament.

    Caritas Bangladesh, a Christian organization, reported attacks on their Khulna office during the unrest. In a statement, Caritas noted that law and order had completely broken down, with law enforcement agencies refraining from their duties for unspecified reasons.

    The statement detailed violent clashes between police and protesters, resulting in widespread attacks on police stations, leading to the deaths of numerous police personnel. According to national media sources, over 560 people have been killed in just 23 days of anti-government protests, marking the bloodiest period in Bangladesh’s civil movement history.

    The violence also led to vandalism and looting of private and government establishments, including the Prime Minister’s residence and the National Parliamentary Building. Religious minorities and Awami League leaders were particularly targeted, with reports of more than 100 houses, religious institutions, and businesses being attacked.

    Caritas Bangladesh confirmed their Khulna office was attacked on August 4 by over 100 people, though the attackers left after realizing they had targeted the wrong location.

    The ongoing crisis has caused significant economic and social disruptions, including losses in tourism, daily labor, and export-oriented enterprises. The collapse of the domestic supply chain has also affected farmers and rural households. The closure of schools, colleges, and universities since July 16 has further exacerbated the situation.

    Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been named the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government. Yunus, known for his work developing microcredit markets, urged young people to help rebuild the country and condemned the violence against religious minorities. “My first word to you is to protect the country from disorder and violence,” he said during his installation.

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