Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
On the day when the great festival of Chhath was being celebrated in the country, disturbing pictures came from Bangladesh. Hindus were dragged from their homes and beaten. It is a matter of concern that this time Hindus were not attacked by fundamentalists but by the Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh army entered the houses of Hindus in the dark of night, beat up sleeping people, lathicharged them, Hindus who ran to save their lives were made to run on the streets and beaten brutally.
After this, to erase the evidence of atrocities, Bangladesh Police broke the CCTV cameras installed in Hindu localities. They entered the houses and deleted the footage of CCTV cameras and while leaving, threatened the Hindus that if they came out of their houses or uttered even a word against Muslims, they would be shot. The Government of India has expressed concern and strong displeasure over such incidents. Modi government has asked the Bangladesh government to stop the atrocities on Hindus, investigate the matter and provide security to Hindus.
This is not the first case of atrocities on Hindus. Since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina government, Hindus are being attacked every day. Hindus in Bangladesh are living in an atmosphere of fear. Now even the army there is targeting Hindus. The only mistake of Hindus was that they had opposed the insult to Gods and Goddesses and the attacks on temples. After this the army completely destroyed the localities of Hindus.
The question arises whether the rights of Hindus have ended in Bangladesh? Do Hindus not have the right to worship? Has the government of Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh given license to fundamentalists to insult Hindus? Has the Bangladesh Army also become the enemy of the Hindus living there? Now, in such a situation, what should the Indian government do to protect Hindus?
On Tuesday night, the army wreaked havoc on Hindus in Hazari Gali of Chattogram, the second largest city of Bangladesh. Suddenly, army and police personnel led by the Deputy Commissioner entered that area of Hindus. The houses were identified in advance. There was a completely targeted attack. The Hindus living in the area did not even get a chance to recover. Army soldiers entered the houses and started beating people with sticks. Frightened, frightened and frightened people started hiding here and there, then the army soldiers dragged people out of the house and threw them on the road and beat them with sticks.
What actually happened was that a Muslim businessman from Hazari Gali area had said bad things about the Hindu organization ISKCON. When his speech was uploaded on social media, the Hindu community protested outside the Muslim businessman’s house. After this, the Hindus living in Hazari Gali locality were in trouble. Bangladesh police and army personnel reached there and selectively targeted Hindus. Frightened by the brutality of the army, women and frightened children hid in some houses, then the army soldiers surrounded these houses. Hindus were asked to come out of their houses. When people did not come out of their homes, the soldiers threatened to kill people by firing in the air. Just imagine, what would have been the condition of the Hindus imprisoned in these houses under such circumstances?
India has expressed deep concern over the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and has asked the Bangladesh government to protect the people of the Hindu community and take action against sectarian people. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the videos of attacks on Hindus that have surfaced are very frightening and disturbing.
The videos of atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh are heart-wrenching. The surprising thing is that this time the army did this and deleted the CCTV footage to hide its actions. However, atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh are nothing new. After Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power, atrocities on Hindus increased. Her pictures gave goosebumps. That is why Donald Trump had condemned the atrocities on Hindus of Bangladesh during his election campaign.
Now after Trump’s victory in the elections, there is silence in the political corridors of Bangladesh. Some people are claiming that the wind has started changing. Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League has now got a new lease of life, but it will take time to know how effective it will actually prove to be. As far as the atrocities on Hindus are concerned, now along with the government, the army is also involved in it. That is why there is a need to create an environment and raise voice against it across the world.
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat, Rajat Sharma Saath’ full episode of November 07, 2024
