Washington, Agencies. The US has condemned the attacks on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.
A State Department spokesman said freedom of religion is a human right. Every person across the world, irrespective of the religion he or she believes in, needs to feel safe to celebrate important festivals.
Bangladeshi Hindus in Washington have lodged a strong protest against the violence happening in the country. They protested fiercely in front of the Bangladesh Embassy. Community representative Pranesh Haldhar wrote a letter to the US State Department requesting it to ensure that no further harm is done to Hindus in Bangladesh.
At the same time, hundreds of people protested on Monday in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
Utsav Chakraborty, executive director of US-based Hindu rights group Hindupact, said it was particularly appalling to see Hindus living in Noakhali being attacked in this manner. In Bangladesh, the people of the original Hindu community are constantly being victims of discrimination and hatred.
The minority population there was 28 percent in 1940 and has come down sharply to nine percent.
The government has termed the attacks on Durga Puja pandals as pre-planned. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has described these attacks as a conspiracy to spoil the religious harmony of Bangladesh.
He claimed that efforts are being made to disturb the peace of the country ahead of the general elections to be held in the year 2023.
“We are not ruling out the possibility of involvement of BNP-Jamaat or any third force in these attacks,” the minister said. Allaying India’s concerns over the safety of minorities, the Minister said that the government is taking all possible steps in this direction. Responding to another question, he said, “These attacks have nothing to do with the Taliban.”
