'Minorities in Bangladesh being forced to resign, threatened to leave country'

DHAKA: Although attacks on minorities have come down significantly in Bangladesh, members of the minority community are reportedly facing new challenges like alleged forced resignations, threats to leave the country, and rampant extortion. There have been reports of major changes in govt offices, autonomous bodies, schools and colleges amid reports that resignations of employees belonging to the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities were secured under coercion.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad general secretary Rana Dasgupta told TOI that over the last couple of days he had got 10-12 complaints of minorities being forced to quit through threats and harassment. He said his outfit was ascertaining the veracity of the complaints. The lawyer said there are also growing cases of extortion with minorities being told that they will be forced to leave the country if money is not paid. He, however, said that there were no reports of any more attacks on the minority population's houses, looting of valuables and arson attacks on temples at this moment.