There seems to be no respite for the Hindus in Bangladesh. The Hindus have been standing up for themselves despite a rabid campaign against them by the radical Islamists.
Leading the tirade against the Hindus is the Jamaat-e-Islami backed Hefazat-e-Islam. In the most recent action, it has called for a ban on ISKCON. They are chanting slogans and painting graffiti that reads, ‘ catch one ISKCON and then slaughter.’
The Hefazat-e-Islam is based on the qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh and is seen as a far-right Islamic advocacy group.
The ISKCON or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation, which has its presence in many countries including Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, there are four ISKCONs-Chittagong, Naokhali, Mymensingh and Dhaka.
While there have been no complaints about the functioning of ISKCONs in Bangladesh, the the Hefazat-e-Islam has decided to attack it as it is an important symbol of Hinduism.
This outfit which is not banned in Bangladesh was formed in the year 2010 to protest against Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. It said that it was opposing the Awami League’s Nari Unnayan Niti or the women’s development policy which proposed to confer equal rights on the inheritance law for women. It said that this policy goes against the Sharia Law.
The outfit however came into prominence in the year 2013 when it listed several demands, which included restrictions of free mixing of women and men and also the introduction of a blasphemy law in Bangladesh. In a nutshell, the Hefazat-e-Islam wanted to Taliabinise Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina had to in 2013 use force to quell the Shapla Square protest by the outfit. However in the later years, there was a compromise between the outfit and the government. Since then the relations have been blow hot blow cold. However relations strained and never improved after the Hefazat-e-Islam began criticising Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the founding father of Bangladesh. They also protested violently when Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 50th Independence Day celebrations of Bangladesh. This resulted in the death of 13 people.
The group initially only indulged in minor protests under the leadership of Ahmad Shafi, its founder. However following his death in 2020, the outfit was taken over by Junaid Babunagari and under him it became extremely hardline. Junaid Babunagari however died in 2021, but the outfit continues to follow his violent style of Isla.
While it has stepped up its attacks against the Hindus today in the absence of Sheikh Hasina, it has indulged in similar acts in the past as well. During PM Modi’s visit, the outfit undertook acts of violence that involved attacking a train which had several Hindus. It also indulged in violent Temple attacks.
Batting for an Islamic State
The Hefazat-e-Islam has always been batting for an Islamic State in Bangladesh. Its vice president, Muhyiddin Rabbani had once said that Islam was the basis on which Pakistan was created. The Muslims are in majority in Bangladesh and this country should adhere to Islam.
He also said that if the Islamic law is implemented everyone will have rights in the form of justice. He adde that they would base their decisions about music on what is permissible in Islam. We do not like art of music and we shall oppose it.
In a nut shell what this outfit wants is that Bangladesh should be governed under the Sharia law.
The fall of the Sheikh Hasina government has come as a boon for outfits such as these. The Hefazat-e-Islam has been in the forefront when it comes to violence against the Hindus. The targeting Hindu Temples is one way of conveying the message that there is no place for Hindus in this country.
The latest in their playbook are the ISKCONs, which are very significant for the Hindus. Looking at the manner in which they issued the latest threat, it is clear that they want the ISKCONs out of the country.
It may not last long
The Deepawali message by President elect, Donald Trump came as a relief for the minorities in Bangladesh. He said that he was hurt by the persecution and demanded that it stop at once. The President elect also said that this would have never happened under his watch.
Many Bangladesh watchers feel that Trump would put pressure on Bangladesh to stop the violence and conduct a free and fair election. To make matters worse for Bangladesh, its caretaker Muhammad Yunus does not share a rapport with Donald Trump. It would be very hard for him to navigate relations with the Trump administration. It may be recalled that in 2016 after Donald Trump had won the election, the first time, Yunus had said at a lecture in Paris that the win has hit them so hard that in the morning he could hardly talk. I lost all my strength, he said.
Moreover Yunus is seen as a stooge of the Clintons and Obamas and this will not bode well with Trump. His stance in the past on Donald Trump and the fact that he is sleeping over the persecution of minorities, will make it extremely complex for Dhaka to deal with the new dispensation in the United States.
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