Dhaka/New Delhi: Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, has criticized India’s portrayal of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, calling it “exaggerated” and questioning the narrative presented by India.
In a recent interview with PTI, Yunus asserted that the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are more politically motivated than communal. He suggested that the violence stems from political unrest rather than religious discord, attributing the situation to perceptions that Hindus supported the now-deposed Awami League regime.
“I have told (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi that this issue is exaggerated. It has several dimensions. When the country experienced upheaval due to actions by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, their supporters, including some Hindus, also faced attacks,” Yunus stated.
During the unrest that followed the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there were reports of vandalism against Hindu businesses and temples. Hasina’s resignation on August 5 and subsequent flight to India intensified the violence.
Yunus explained, “While targeting Awami League supporters, some attackers also harmed Hindus because of the perception that Hindus are Awami League sympathizers. This is not to justify the violence, but some are using it to justify property seizures. The distinction between Awami League supporters and Hindus is blurred.”
In his initial interaction with New Delhi last month, Yunus assured Prime Minister Modi of Dhaka’s commitment to safeguarding Hindus and other minority groups. Modi reiterated India’s support for a stable and democratic Bangladesh and emphasized the need for protecting minorities.
Hindus, once 22% of Bangladesh’s population during the 1971 Liberation War, now make up around 8% of the 170 million population, with many historically supporting the secular Awami League.
Yunus contended, “These attacks are political rather than communal, and India is magnifying them. We have not claimed we are powerless; rather, we are actively addressing the issue.”
Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day speech on August 15, expressed concern for the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and hoped for a return to normalcy.
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Looking ahead, Yunus expressed a desire for improved relations with India but urged New Delhi to abandon its narrative that Bangladesh would become another Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina. He said, “India needs to move away from this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is just another neighbor.”
Yunus further advised the Hindu community to advocate for their rights as citizens rather than solely as Hindus. He emphasized, “I encouraged them to identify as citizens with equal rights. If someone infringes on those rights, there are legal remedies.”
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The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) has reported attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, following the fall of Hasina’s government. Protests by thousands of Hindus in Dhaka and Chattogram on August 10-11 demanded protection amid widespread vandalism.
The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance reported that since the fall of Hasina’s government, the Hindu community has faced attacks in 278 locations across 48 districts, describing it as an “assault on the Hindu religion.”
