A human rights group in Bangladesh has accused the interim government of ignoring a surge in violence against religious minorities and excluding them from key reform processes.
The Hindu–Buddhist–Christian Unity Council said it had documented more than 2,400 incidents of violence since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year.
The group alleged that these included murder, rape, gang rape, and the vandalism of temples, homes, and businesses, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.
“We have recorded 2,442 incidents from August 4 last year to June 30 this year, involving murders, rapes and gang rapes, vandalism of temples, homes, and businesses,” said Monindra Kumar Nath, the council’s general secretary, during a press conference in Dhaka.
The group said the violence has persisted under the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Many of the victims, it added, were believed to be supporters of the ousted Awami League.
“Instead of giving due attention to our concerns, the government chose to label them as false, fabricated, and exaggerated,” Nath said, adding that the accused were “enjoying impunity.”
Despite minority groups comprising at least 10 percent of the country’s population of 170 million, the council said no representatives have been included in the reform commissions formed to address discrimination.
“The government has neither formed a separate commission for religious minorities nor included a representative from the community in any of the commissions,” Nath said.
Council member Kajal Debnath recalled that violence against minorities has long plagued the country.
“The first attack during Durga Puja (the largest Hindu festival) occurred in 1972. But this time, we hoped for better since we have a Nobel Peace Prize winner at the helm,” Debnath said.
Yunus’ press office has acknowledged 88 incidents of violence against minorities and said 70 people have been arrested. But the council said there has been no meaningful progress in prosecuting those responsible.
