Hindus fighting for their existence In Bangladesh

Hindus in Bangladesh held a massive rally in Chittagong, calling for justice and protection as attacks against the minority group escalate.

They warned that if Hindus, who are natives, continue to be oppressed and forced to flee, Bangladesh would end up becoming a hub for radicalism and communalism, similar to Afghanistan and Syria.

Since August 5, when Islamist forces took power through violence, Bangladesh’s Hindu community — representing 8% of the population — has faced relentless targeting.

In September alone, over 2,000 attacks were reported, And 35 incidents during Durga Puja.

In response, the community has formed a 19-member committee with an eight-point demand list, planning mass rallies in every district, every division, and then a mass rally marching towards Capital city, Dhaka.

The Key Demands Include:

• Proportional representation for Hindus in Parliament.
• Speedy trial tribunals for crimes against minorities.
• Enactment of a Minority Protection Act.
• Establishment of a Minority Affairs Ministry.
• Recovery of vested property taken from Hindu families.
• Construction of worship spaces in all educational institutions and hostels.
• Modernization of the Sanskrit and Pali education boards.
• Five public holidays for Durga Puja, the largest Hindu festival.

They also criticized the interim government for allocating only 200 crore taka to non-Muslims out of a total 15,000 crore budget for religious affairs — a figure far below proportional representation for the Hindu population.