Bangladesh The incidents of attacks against the Hindu community have made clear the situation of religious intolerance in the country. The latest incident took place in Chittagong, where some miscreants targeted and vandalized three Hindu temples. This incident happened at a time when the series of attacks and atrocities against religious minorities is increasing continuously in Bangladesh. Amidst these attacks, the question arises that why Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus, who is known for peace and prosperity in his country, is silent on these incidents.
Hindu temples attacked in Chittagong
According to reports of the recent incident, on November 22, at around 2:30 pm, a violent mob targeted Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shani Mandir, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple in Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, Chittagong. According to bdnews24.com, more than a thousand people arrived shouting slogans and started throwing bricks and stones at the temples. The gates of temples and other structures were damaged in this attack.
Describing the seriousness of the incident, the temple management said that the attack was so intense that it became difficult to enter the temples. However, the police were quick to control the attackers and brought the situation under control. Kotwali police station chief Abdul Karim said that there was minor damage to the temples.
Question on Yunus’s silence
Mohammad Yunus, himself a respected social activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is facing allegations that he is silent about the religious attacks taking place in his country. Yunus has spent a large part of his life working for the poor and minorities, but under his leadership no concrete initiative is being taken to protect the Hindu community and their rights.
Commenting on the current situation, analysts said that Yunus needs to take more effective steps to maintain his image than he has done so far. The attacks against minority communities in Bangladesh have not only challenged their religious freedom but also put their lives in danger.
Chittagong incident and its effects
After this attack in Chittagong, religious tension has increased further in the entire country. Chinamoy Krishna Das, a former member and spiritual leader of ISKCON Bangladesh, has recently been arrested on treason charges. Since then, anti-Hindu protests have intensified in Bangladesh.
Such incidents make it clear that Hindu and other religious minority communities in Bangladesh have to struggle for their religious freedom and security. Regarding this attack which took place after the Friday prayers, Tapan Das said that the violent mob not only targeted the temples, but they also tried to intimidate the people of the Hindu community.
Increasing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
In the last few years, incidents of attacks on Hindus have increased in Bangladesh. The situation has worsened since 5 August 2020, when strong action was taken against a prominent religious leader. From that time till now, the Hindu community has faced many obstacles in their religious practices and celebrating festivals.
Cases like vandalism of Hindu temples, protests against religious events, and beating up of people from the Hindu community have become common. In many cases, the local administration and police also did not take appropriate action on these attacks, thereby creating an atmosphere of insecurity within the community.
Role and future prospects of Mohammad Yunus
Under the leadership of Mohammad Yunus, who has achieved international fame in the field of microfinance and poverty alleviation, a new hope was born in Bangladesh. But now when religious disagreements and violence are increasing in the country, questions are being raised on the role of his government and his leadership. Will Yunus take some concrete steps to preserve the religious diversity of his country? Or does their tacit agreement indicate that they are incapable of paying attention to these issues?
One thing is clear from such incidents that there is a need for religious tolerance and mutual respect between communities in Bangladesh. In such a situation, it will be important to see how Mohammad Yunus, a distinguished social leader, will solve the current problems of his country. Will he use his awards and prestige to take any steps towards ending this crisis or will his silence mean that he wants to stay away from these questions?
final thoughts
Recent events in Bangladesh have proved that religious intolerance can be dangerous not only for minorities but for the entire society. It is the responsibility of every citizen of Bangladesh and its leaders to protect the safety of the Hindu community and their rights. Mohammad Yunus will now have to answer the question whether he is really in favor of religious tolerance or is only busy saving his global image.
The eyes of the country and the world are towards the government of Bangladesh and their leaders to see how they handle this time and what steps they take to protect the minority communities in the country.
