Minority groups protest over failure to stop persecution

DHAKA: Minority groups in Bangladesh on Monday alleged govt failure to stop "violence, killings and persecution of minority communities" and said chief adviser Muhammad Yunus had claimed he will build a humane Bangladesh, but in reality he is an "inhumane chief adviser". Their reaction came after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das (25), a garment factory worker who was beaten by a mob to death and set blaze for alleged blasphemy on Dec 18 in Mymensingh.

Minority Unity Front joint coordinator Manindra Kumar Nath called on people of all communities to demand Yunus's removal, alleging continued persecution of minorities since the interim govt was installed. Nim Chanda Bhowmik, one of the presidents of the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad, claimed that divisive forces and militant groups were being patronised, "contributing to ongoing violence". He also said offices of newspapers the Daily Star and Prothom Alo, as well as cultural organisations such as Chhayanaut and Udichi, had been attacked without effective govt response.


The Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh and the Editors' Council held a joint protest meeting, stressing that their protest will continue until those responsible for recent arson attacks on the Daily Star and Prothom Alo are brought to justice.