The aftermath of the political crisis in Bangladesh has once again made the Hindu community in the country a soft target. The student protest quickly became an excuse for Islamists to inflict violence against Hindus. The declining Hindu population, which was 7.95 per cent in 2022, is a clear indication of the tragic plight of the community. https://theprint.in/opinion/attacks-on-hindus-in-bangladesh-show-deep-hatred-india-must-provide-refuge/2225699/
As a Pasmanda Muslim from India, I often see exaggerated claims about the plight of Indian Muslims, suggesting that we are on the brink of genocide under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. This claim has persisted for the past decade, only to be proven as fear-mongering. This makes me wonder why the historical genocide and ongoing oppression of the Hindu population in Bangladesh receive so little acknowledgement. Despite more than 200 attacks on religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, and damage to about 20 temples since 5 August, the intelligentsia and global news coverage have portrayed the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus as just another case of minority oppression. This oversimplification does a disservice to the victims.
Each act of oppression has its own root cause and deserves to be discussed on its own merits. There is an undeniable underlying hatred toward the community, and it is crucial to understand where this sentiment stems from.
by Amna Begam
16/08/2024