Hindu Mohajote accuses Awami League of holding community hostage

"The Hindu community has been held hostage by the Awami League since 1955," said Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, secretary general of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote, at a press conference held on Friday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Gobinda said, "Despite some Hindu MPs being elected, they have always represented their parties, not the welfare of the Hindu community."

The Hindu Mohajote urged for the restoration of "reserved seats in the National Assembly and a separate electoral system" as a permanent solution to the minority issues, along with the establishment of a Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Expressing their support for the interim government, Gobinda said, "The 15-year-long darkness has ended, and the Hindu community is relieved as the nation is free from autocracy."

Gobinda noted that from 6 August to the present, 132 Hindu communities have been attacked, and nearly a thousand families have faced silent extortion.

He underscored that these attacks were politically motivated, not communal, and targeted Hindu leaders, workers, and supporters, particularly those affiliated with the Awami League.

He reported that 43 unprotected temples in rural areas were vandalised during this period.

Gobinda also mentioned that "only one Hindu has been killed since 5 August, Mrinal Kanti Banerjee, a retired teacher from Bagerhat district, due to a long-standing land dispute. Awami League leaders and activists have been named as instigators behind this incident."

He alleged that Awami League attempted to take political advantage by attacking Hindu homes, temples, and monasteries across the country.

"The Awami League government has systematically victimised the Hindu community to gain political advantage. However, these plans were thwarted by the vigilant actions of various political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat, and Hefazat-e-Islam," Gobinda said.

He highlighted that the Hindu population in Bangladesh has decreased from 33% in 1947 to 7.95% today, attributing this decline to the Awami League's actions over the past 15 years, which have forced thousands of Hindus to leave the country.

The press conference was attended by Hindu Mohajote President Advocate Dinabandhu Roy, Chief Coordinator Vijay Krishna Bhattacharya, Executive President Advocate Pradeep Kumar Pal, Vice President Dulal Kumar Mandal, Joint General Secretary Bipul Biswas, and others.