There seems to be no check on atrocities being committed by extremist groups in Bangladesh. Their main target is people from The Hindu minority community.
Extremists attacked two temples and assaulted members of the minority community in Chittagong, forcing Hindus living in the area to flee to safer shelters. Several shops were also targeted near the Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong after Friday prayers.
Sources said the Radha Govinda and Shantaneswari Matri Temple were targeted by extremists from the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The incident happened while a march was being held in the area demanding a ban on the Hindu religious outfit Iskcon.
The police and the Army personnel chose to remain as mute spectators, reports reveal. They did nothing to save the victims.
As a result, people from this predominantly Hindu area fled the locality fearing an escalation of violence.
There has been a string of incidents of desecration and damage to Hindu temples and deities in Bangladesh since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August. Over 200 temples have been targeted, as per reports.
The arrest of a Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, for sedition has only added fuel to the fire. Chinmoy Das’s arrest has triggered massive protests from the Hindu community and led to clashes with security personnel.
Iskcon has also been targeted, with a petition in the High Court demanding its ban. However, the court has declined to ban the global organization.
Reacting to the grim situation the Indian government said it was the responsibility of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to protect the life and liberty of Hindus in Bangladesh.
“India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric. We call upon Bangladesh to take steps for the protection of minorities,” the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.