Unrelenting Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh: A Grim Reminder of Past Atrocities By Radicals
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The violence in Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasina has been unrelenting, especially against the Hindu minority of the Islamic nation. There has been systematic targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh by radicals. There have been reports of Hindus coming under attack by Islamist mobs. Hindu houses have been burnt, Hindu temples have been vandalized, Hindu women have been raped, some have been lynched in the country.
However, atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh have been happening for decades, especially after the 1971 War. As Bangladesh faces severe unrest, Hindus are begging for aid & urging for the protection of minority rights in the neighboring nation. Hindus who bore witness to the atrocities of the past have narrated their horrifying picture of the challenges faced by them in Bangladesh.
Sushil Gangopadhyay, who fled to India in 1971, recalled his prosperous life in the Noakhali District of Bangladesh. "We had a big family and vast lands. But during the Liberation War, the Pakistani army and Razakars attacked us. Homes were burned, and many were brutally killed. I was just 10 or 12 years old. The Razakars tortured us, throwing men's bodies into rivers and violating our mothers. Many women were impregnated by the Pakistani army. Even after all these years, those scars remain," Sushil said to OneIndia. The constant atrocities by the majority community, it forced him to seek permanent refuge in India.
He voiced his concerns saying, "Seeing the recent events in Bangladesh is heart-wrenching. I saw footage of a pregnant woman being kicked in the stomach; such brutality is unimaginable. As an Indian, I demand the rescue of our native brothers. If Hindus continue to be mistreated there, we might have to consider a 'Quit India' movement in Bangladesh."
According to Anima Das of Bangaon, who was pregnant when she fled Bangladesh, "My son was young, and my daughter was in my womb. The country was engulfed in conflict; houses were burned. Out of fear, my father-in-law sent us to India." The trauma of witnessing widespread violence, especially against men, has left an indelible mark on her. "I've visited Bangladesh a few times since, but I can't bear the thought of living there again," she was quoted as saying to OneIndia.
Paresh Das, who arrived in India in 1956, shared "My grandfather was hacked to death before my eyes. We abandoned our land in fear. They assaulted my cousin right in front of me. Though we live peacefully in India now, relatives back in Noakhali still face threats. Just a month ago, my uncle was killed over land disputes. I told them to prioritise their lives over property."
Rashomoy Biswas, residing near Newtown, recounted post-1971 persecutions. "Being Hindu was a crime. Even after independence, there was no respite. Pakistani Army and Jamaat forces targeted us, marking Hindu homes for attacks. My family spent nights hiding, often without food. While we now live in peace in India, many of our relatives remain in Bangladesh. We urge the Indian government to intervene, ensuring that Hindus there can live without fear."
The common thread among these survivors is that they express deep concern over the recent violence and call for immediate intervention by India to protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. It speaks high volumes of the fear and desperation among Bangladeshi Hindus.
However, atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh have been happening for decades, especially after the 1971 War. As Bangladesh faces severe unrest, Hindus are begging for aid & urging for the protection of minority rights in the neighboring nation. Hindus who bore witness to the atrocities of the past have narrated their horrifying picture of the challenges faced by them in Bangladesh.
Sushil Gangopadhyay, who fled to India in 1971, recalled his prosperous life in the Noakhali District of Bangladesh. "We had a big family and vast lands. But during the Liberation War, the Pakistani army and Razakars attacked us. Homes were burned, and many were brutally killed. I was just 10 or 12 years old. The Razakars tortured us, throwing men's bodies into rivers and violating our mothers. Many women were impregnated by the Pakistani army. Even after all these years, those scars remain," Sushil said to OneIndia. The constant atrocities by the majority community, it forced him to seek permanent refuge in India.
He voiced his concerns saying, "Seeing the recent events in Bangladesh is heart-wrenching. I saw footage of a pregnant woman being kicked in the stomach; such brutality is unimaginable. As an Indian, I demand the rescue of our native brothers. If Hindus continue to be mistreated there, we might have to consider a 'Quit India' movement in Bangladesh."
According to Anima Das of Bangaon, who was pregnant when she fled Bangladesh, "My son was young, and my daughter was in my womb. The country was engulfed in conflict; houses were burned. Out of fear, my father-in-law sent us to India." The trauma of witnessing widespread violence, especially against men, has left an indelible mark on her. "I've visited Bangladesh a few times since, but I can't bear the thought of living there again," she was quoted as saying to OneIndia.
Paresh Das, who arrived in India in 1956, shared "My grandfather was hacked to death before my eyes. We abandoned our land in fear. They assaulted my cousin right in front of me. Though we live peacefully in India now, relatives back in Noakhali still face threats. Just a month ago, my uncle was killed over land disputes. I told them to prioritise their lives over property."
Rashomoy Biswas, residing near Newtown, recounted post-1971 persecutions. "Being Hindu was a crime. Even after independence, there was no respite. Pakistani Army and Jamaat forces targeted us, marking Hindu homes for attacks. My family spent nights hiding, often without food. While we now live in peace in India, many of our relatives remain in Bangladesh. We urge the Indian government to intervene, ensuring that Hindus there can live without fear."
The common thread among these survivors is that they express deep concern over the recent violence and call for immediate intervention by India to protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. It speaks high volumes of the fear and desperation among Bangladeshi Hindus.