DHAKA: In the latest episode of crackdown by the Bangladesh authorities on the Hindu minority community in the country, Bangladesh Army has sharply repressed the Hindu and Buddhist minorities, who were actually protesting to seek justice over the alleged rape of a non-Muslim Bengali-tribal schoolgirl. The incident took place in the Khagrachhari district headquarters, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Southeastern Bangladesh. As per the reports, 4 people have been killed and nearly 40 have been injured in the indiscriminate firing unleashed by the Bangladesh Army.
The minor girl was allegedly raped on her way back home from a private tuition, and was found by her parents and neighbours during midnight in an isolated area in the town. The incident is yet another testament to the spiking atrocities in Bangladesh against the minority communities, especially the marginalized Hindu community in the country, since the take-over of the country’s administration by the interim government. Reportedly, the Hindu and Buddhist communities were protesting against the rape of a minor schoolgirl, who belongs to the tribal Bengali community. Meanwhile, people who were demanding justice, were sharply repressed by the Bangladeshi Army.
The local administration also imposed Section 144 as well, thus barring the people from catalyzing large-scale public gatherings. Meanwhile, illegal Muslim settlers in the region burnt down the houses of the tribal people who were apparently seeking justice for the minor girl. Despite severe repression and crackdown, protestors called for a district wide blockade. The life of the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh has been miserable since the ouster of the Sheik Hasina regime by a violent students’ uprising and the establishment of the Interim Government under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, in August 2024.
The indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are protesting since five days seeking justice for the minor girl who was raped by the illegal Muslim settlers in the region. “Instead of arresting the rapists, the Bangladeshi Army personnel have been violating the rights of the indigenous peoples’ protestors and today resorted to the killing of the peaceful protestors by indiscriminate firing. The indiscriminate killing by the Bangladesh Army and thereafter allowing the illegal Muslim settlers to burning down the houses of indigenous peoples at Ramsu Bazaar area under Guimara shows that the killings are premeditated”, said Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights and Risk Anaylsis Group(RRAG).
As per the reports, since August 2024, 152 Hindu temples in the country have been vandalized and more than 150 minority homes have been destroyed. Cases of physical and sexual abuse on the minority Hindu women and young girls have also been drastically raised. Hence, the RRAG grouping, also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene against the systematic and calibrated attacks spiking in Bangladesh against the minority communities, under the Yunus Government in Dhaka.
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