‘Hindus never saw a day of freedom in Bangladesh’

Patna: As India celebrated its 78th Independence Day on Thursday, the sentiments of some Bangladeshi Hindus reflected a sombre reality. A 27-year-old businessman from Noakhali district in the neighbouring country, known for its violent past against Hindus, expressed his disillusionment. “It’s heartening to see India celebrate its 78th Independence Day, but we Bangladeshi Hindus never saw a day of freedom when we could live without fear,” the man, who is on a business trip to Patna, said.
Recent unrest in Bangladesh has exacerbated these fears. The quota protests have allegedly triggered more than 200 attacks on Hindus, Christians and Buddhists with numerous temples vandalised in Bangladesh. “Anything happens in Bangladesh right from the nation’s birth in 1971 – or as a matter of fact in India like the Babri mosque demolition in 1992 – we Hindus have always been the soft targets,” the businessman said. He recounted incidents of violence during Durga Puja in 2021 and an attack on an Iskcon temple that resulted in a devotee’s death. “Why can’t we celebrate our festivals peacefully, like them (majority Muslims)? This time, we are bearing the brunt of an anti-quota stir by students,” he added.
Another 24-year-old businessman from Feni district said while his family has complained of tense conditions, they are not as severe as those in Dhaka or Faridpur. Reflecting on the past govt, he said, “We felt comparatively safer under recently ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, despite her efforts, it was challenging for her to prevent every attack.”
Their apprehension is evident, especially as they face uncertainty with the interim govt led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate in economics “but not peace”. “We have no choice but to hope that Yunus will protect our interests. We also hope India, being a powerful neighbour, can intervene,” said the 24-year-old.
The 27-year-old businessman expressed a poignant plea. “During the partition of India, my grandfather chose to stay back. He didn’t want to leave our motherland. But I don’t know how long we can survive in Bangladesh and why should we be uprooted,” he asked. He hopes India can provide refuge to those forced to flee their ancestral homes. “India, being our immediate neighbour and a Hindu-majority country, can accommodate those who really need shelter. If both the Bangladesh and Indian govts let us down, we will have no place to live,” he added.