Why are Bangladesh Hindus agitating again?

On March 12, Hindu community celebrated Holi in Bangladesh and we can say that this celebration took place amidst much fun, albeit for some time. In Shakhari Bazar area of Dhaka, where a big crowd of Hindus had come to play Holi, some men came to the area and started forcefully applying colour to Hijab wearing Muslim girls and even those women who were merely passing from there.

Thereafter, the guardians of two of these Muslim girls filed a case in the local police station after rumors suggested that the boys were of the Hindu community. But after viewing the video footage 3 guys were arrested by the police and all of them are Muslims. Was it a deliberate ploy to anger the majority Muslim community and turn it against the Hindus? The police are investigating but these are not isolated incidents at all.

Bangladesh, Holi play Bangladesh, Dr Tuhin Malik, Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
This was the post that Tuhin Malik made where he gave religious colors to the act of molesters who were all Muslims.

Dr. Tuhin Malik, who was earlier in news for having made derogatory remarks against the Bangladesh’s Constitution and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a meeting in London, jumped at the chance.

The radical Islamist politician used the occasion to target Hindu community whom he believed had targeted the Muslim girls. To avenge this alleged disrespect he first made a derogatory post on Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha which when translated gives lewd and vulgar color to Holi.

Bangladesh Hindu today proudly says that ‘I am a Hindu’ and is unafraid

When Currentriggers.com’s journalist spoke to a local source, the person said that if the molesters arrested weren’t all Muslims then he even feared that there would be riots all over in Bangladesh against the Hindus.

Currentriggers.com was able to procure screenshots of Tuhin’s posts:

Bangladesh, Holi play Bangladesh, Dr Tuhin Malik, Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Bangladesh, Holi play Bangladesh, Dr Tuhin Malik, Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hindus, Islam,
Bangladesh’s Hindu Mohajote protested against his vulgar remarks in Dhaka and demanded that Tuhin be arrested for trying to instigate a Diwali-like riot against Hindus but no action took place.

On 17th March, in Chittagong too, many Hindu groups came out to protest and yet failed to get a quick redressal.

Bangladesh, Holi play Bangladesh, Dr Tuhin Malik, Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

One could say that this should not be reported however, Tuhin Malik is no small fish and his Facebook page has 302,993 supporters.

We could again say that this can be overlooked for the sake of harmony and brotherhood but considering that last time all that it took for the radicals to burn down Hindu homes was a mere rumor of blasphemy, it is imperative that such incidents be brought to light with alacrity.

tuhin 5

Meanwhile, to highlight the atrocities against the Bangladeshi Hindu community, Bangladesh’s Hindus from across the world are coming to India and are hoping that they will be heard with compassion and understanding. Tripura governor Tathagata Roy will also attend this seminar.

Bangladesh, Holi play Bangladesh, Dr Tuhin Malik, Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, CAAMB

But while the efforts are on, let’s not forget that Bangladeshi Hindus are facing an existential crisis with senior researchers like Dr Abdul Barkat saying that there will not be any Hindu left in the nation after 3 decades.

Barkat had even said that from 1964 to 2013, around 11.3 million Hindus migrated out of Bangladesh due to religious persecution and discrimination.

And this persecution is despite the humongous sacrifice that Bangladesh’s Hindu community paid for carving out this nation.

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By Namta Gupta