Forum for Protection of Minorities in Bangladesh holds protest march in Agartala

The Forum for the Protection of Minorities in Bangladesh organised a large protest march here on Sunday to condemn the continuous horrific atrocities faced by minorities in Bangladesh.

The march began at the Agartala Press Club and drew participation from journalists, club members, various social and cultural organisations, and the general public.

“In response to the recent incident in Bangladesh, we are organising a protest rally under the banner of the “Forum for the Protection of Minorities in Bangladesh.Journalists, club members, and representatives from various social and cultural organisations, along with the general public, have participated in this rally. This is just the first phase of our protest; we will send a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Governor, and we will continue this movement on a larger scale,” Pranav Sarkar, a senior journalist, told AN.

The procession wound through the city’s streets and concluded in front of the Rabindra Bhavan in Agartala. Notable attendees included Press Club President Jayanta Bhattacharya and senior journalists Subal Kumar Dey and Pranab Sarkar, along with other journalists and intellectuals who voiced their solidarity during the event.

Jayanta Bhattacharjee, President of Agartala Press Club, said that there are deep concerns about the increasing attacks on minorities–Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists–following changes in the Bangladeshi government.

“It seems there is a deliberate plan to undermine the Hindu community in Bangladesh. We believe that the government must take action to protect the lives and rights of minorities. We share a sense of solidarity with Bangladesh, as we speak the same language, Bengali. Personally, I believe that the current government is funded by terrorist organizations and has an anti-Hindu agenda, driven by Muslim fundamentalism. Today, we are here to protest for the protection of minorities in Bangladesh,” he said.

Baishnab Vakti Kamal Goswami maharaj, Gaudiya Math, Agartala, said,The purpose of our rally is to protest the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. This rally aims to call for an immediate end to the violence against minorities.”

Notably, since Sheikh Hasina’s abrupt resignation on August 5 that brought an end to her 15 years in power, there have been numerous reports of attacks against Hindu households, temples and businesses. Hindus are the largest minority faith in Bangladesh.

The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed office on August 8, three days after the law and order situation completely broke down and there were no police personnel to protect the people.

Leaders of minority communities met Yunus on August 13 and raised concerns about attacks on their homes, businesses, and temples.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Yunus to ensure the safety and security of minorities and also expressed concern about the security of Hindus during his Independence Day speech.