In Bangladesh, fundamentalists persecute Hindus as people leave behind burnt villages, broken dreams
Recent violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly the attacks in Rangpur's Gangachara, highlights a concerning rise in religious intolerance. Fundamentalist groups are accused of vandalising Hindu homes and displacing families.
Kolkata: In the last year, Bangladesh has witnessed a rise in violence against Hindus. The current situation in the country paints a sorry picture for the minority community, with anxious people deserting villages, leaving everything behind, as one area after another wears a desolate look.
In Rangpur's Gangachara, religious fundamentalism has raised its ugly head. The victims are none other than the common people who are forced to flee for their lives. For two consecutive days, the fundamentalists have vandalised at least 14 houses, shrouding the place in chaos and lawlessness. It is alleged that many Hindus have been displaced due to the atrocities of fundamentalists. Meanwhile, the government has done little to help them.
The atrocities against the Hindus in Rangpur
Local sources, quoted by TV9 Bangla, have said that the fundamentalists are selectively attacking the homes of those who belong to the Hindu community. They are sparing only women and children, but are demolishing the houses and looting them without anyone to stop them.
According to a report by Bangladeshi media outlet 'Prothom Alo', the police and administration had to rush to the place and bring the situation under control. News of the tension spread on Saturday night, which continued until Sunday.
Finally, the army reached the spot at around 4 pm that day to quell the violence and anarchy. This raises a pertinent question: Why did the army arrive so late after a village was devastated? It begets another question: Why did this unrest and vandalism happen?
Some have accused the attackers of being fundamentalists, that the perpetrators were religiously motivated. On the other hand, another section claims that it is communal tension. Chaos has spread in the area over a Facebook post by a teenager from the same village. The boy is merely 17 years old, and the post in question was on Prophet Muhammad.
On Saturday night, in the heat of the moment, miscreants entered the village in Gangachara and demolished 14 houses one after the other. The police have already arrested the minor. The court sent the teenager to the Sammilit Child Rehabilitation Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The rise in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh
The violence against Hindus in Bangladesh has increased steadily over the last year. Recently, in a viral video, it could be seen that a Hindu trader was lynched with chunks of concrete slabs. What made the incident even more grotesque was that the attackers subsequently danced on his body after confirming his death. The name of the trade was Lal Chand, and later his sister, Manjuara Begum (42), filed a complaint against the culprits at Dhaka's Kotwali Police Station.