Hindus in Bangladesh rally to demand protection from attacks and harassment

Tens of thousands of number Hindus person rallied to request that nan interim authorities successful Muslim-majority Bangladesh protect them from a activity of attacks and harassment and to driblet sedition cases against Hindu organization leaders

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Tens of thousands of number Hindus rallied Friday to request that nan interim authorities successful Muslim-majority Bangladesh protect them from a activity of attacks and harassment and driblet sedition cases against Hindu organization leaders.

About 30,000 Hindus demonstrated astatine a awesome intersection successful nan southeastern metropolis of Chattogram chanting slogans demanding their authorities while constabulary and soldiers guarded nan area. Other protests were reported elsewhere successful nan country.

Hindu groups opportunity thousands of attacks against Hindus person happened since early August erstwhile nan secular authorities of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown and Hasina fled nan state pursuing a student-led uprising. Muhammad Yunus, nan Nobel bid laureate named to lead an interim authorities aft Hasina's downfall, says those figures person been exaggerated.

Hindus dress up astir 8% of nan country's astir 170 cardinal people, while Muslims are astir 91%.

The country’s influential number group Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said that location person been much than 2,000 attacks connected Hindus since Aug. 4. Hindus and different number communities opportunity nan interim authorities hasn't adequately protected them and that hardline Islamists are becoming progressively influential since Hasina's ouster.

Hindu activists person been staging protestation rallies successful nan capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere since August to property a group of 8 demands including a rule to protect minorities, a ministry for minorities and a tribunal to prosecute acts of oppression against minorities. They besides activity a five-day vacation for their largest festival, nan Durga Puja.

Friday's protestation successful Chattogram was hastily organized aft sedition charges were revenge Wednesday against 19 Hindu leaders, including salient leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, complete an Oct. 25 rally successful that city. Police arrested 2 of nan leaders, angering Hindus.

The charges stem from an incident erstwhile a group of rally-goers allegedly placed a saffron emblem supra nan Bangladesh emblem connected a pillar, which was considered disrespecting nan nationalist flag.

Hindu organization leaders opportunity nan cases are politically motivated and connected Thursday demanded that they beryllium withdrawn wrong 72 hours. Another Hindu rally has been planned for Saturday successful Dhaka.

Separately, supporters of Hasina's Awami League statement and its allied Jatiya Party person said they besides person been targeted since Hasina's ouster. The Jatiya Party's office was vandalized and group connected occurrence precocious Thursday.

On Friday, Jatiya Chairman G.M. Quader said his supporters would proceed to clasp rallies to request their authorities contempt risking their lives. He said they would clasp a rally successful Dhaka connected Saturday to protestation value hikes of commodities, and what they telephone mendacious charges against their leaders and activists.