Chittagong sees biggest rally in months by Hindus

DHAKA: Thousands of people from Bangladesh's Hindu community gathered at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram (Chittagong) on Friday to say that they will not stop their organised demonstrations until their eight demands are met by the country's interim government.

The gathering under the banner of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagran Manch (Unified Platform for Realising the Rights of Sanatans) - the biggest in months - said they would march towards Dhaka if their eight demands aren't met.

The demands include formation of a tribunal to speedily try those involved in minority atrocities, appropriate compensation to victims and their rehabilitation,enacting a minority protection law without delay, formation of a ministry of minority affairs, and the building of places of worship for minorities in every educational institution and prayer rooms in every hostel, the leaders of the platform said. They also demanded modernisation of Sanskrit and Pali Education Board and a 5-day holiday for Durga Puja. On Thursday, environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said government had heard their demands and had declared a 2-day holiday for Durga Puja for the first time in Bangladesh's history.