UN team in Dhaka to probe violence against minorities, Hindu groups seek meeting
A fact-finding team from the United Nations’ human rights watchdog has arrived in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, to investigate.
The violence against minorities and others following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the subsequent change of government. Hindu minority groups have been frequently reporting atrocities against their community members in different parts of Bangladesh, even weeks after Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge as the Chief Advisor of the interim government. There are also reports of the rise of extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and similar ideological extremist wings.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will be staying in Bangladesh for one month, investigating the allegations of violence. The Hindu minority groups are trying to establish contact with the UN delegation. The groups told India Today that they will meet the delegation and present evidence of killings, vandalism, and the burning of both public and private properties from July 1 to August 5.
On behalf of the Bangabandhu Foundation, they have requested a meeting with the delegation. They have also written a letter to UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres, stating that “massive killings” took place and that Hindu communities’ places of worship and residences were vandalised.
“It is mentioned here that after August 5, massive killings were carried out, and houses and religious institutions of the minority community, as well as leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Awami League, were vandalised. In the meantime, a report from your office stated that over 600 people were killed between July 16 and August 11, 2024,” the letter, accessed by India Today, says.
It added, “The Bangabandhu Foundation has requested the UN to investigate the entire occurrence and the deceased with the help of your forensic and weapons experts.”
Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 and fled the country as a violent crowd targeted her residence during the peak of the anti-government protests. Following this, members of her Awami League and minorities were targeted across the country by people backed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Several instances of Hindus being targeted were also reported.
On August 8, an interim government took charge under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, who promised to restore peace and assured action against those unleashing violence on minorities.