Islamist rules B’desh: Hindus Protest After Ganesha Procession Attacked with Hot Water and Bricks.

Hindus Under Attack: Ganesha Procession Violated with Hot Water and Bricks in Bangladesh by Fundamental Muslims.

“Why are minorities being targeted?” a young Hindu man, injured during the incident, was heard asking in a video shared by the Bangladesh Awami League.

Aditi Das | HENB | Dhaka | Sept 8, 2024:: On Friday, September 6, a procession of Hindu devotees carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha was attacked in front of  Kadam Mubarak Mosque in the Cheragi pahad area of Chittagong city, Bangladesh.

The incident occurred on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in the city, when members of the ‘Batargalli Dhwapara Sarbajanin Puja Committee’ were transporting the idol of Lord Ganesha in a van from artisan Uttam Pal’s factory to the procession site.

As the procession passed by Momin Road, hot water was hurled from the rooftop of a high-rise building, targeting the Lord Ganesha idol and the Hindu devotees below. Notably, the building is situated near the Kadam Mubarak mosque, raising concerns about the motivations behind the attack.

The unprovoked attack sparked a heated altercation between the Hindu devotees and the residents of the building, further escalating tensions in the area.

Eyewitnesses reported that bricks were also thrown at the Hindu procession, resulting in injuries to several devotees. A young Hindu man, who was himself hurt in the attack, revealed that another devotee suffered severe head injuries. In a video shared by the Bangladesh Awami League in its Facebook page, he emotionally asked, ‘Why are minorities being attacked?’ – a poignant question that highlights the growing concern about religious intolerance in the region.

Upon learning of the attack, hundreds of Hindus gathered on Momin Road and in the Jamal Khan ward of Chittagong, staging a massive protest against the violence. In response, a large contingent of police and armed forces was swiftly deployed to the Kadam Mubarak area to maintain order and prevent further escalation of the situation.

Following the deployment of security forces, a thorough room-by-room search was conducted in the high-rise building from which the accused had launched the attack on the Lord Ganesha idol procession. The search aimed to apprehend the culprits and gather evidence related to the incident.

Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in attacks on Hindus, with the latest incident involving a targeted attack on a Ganesha idol procession in Chittagong. The ‘Batargalli Dhwapara Sarbajanin Puja Committee’ has expressed outrage and disappointment over the malicious attempt to hurt Hindu religious sentiments. This incident follows the recent lynching of Hindu boy Utsab Mandal by a Muslim mob in Khulna city, allegedly over blasphemy accusations (The boy is still alive as claimed by the Bangladesh Army). Furthermore, there have been reports of Muslim students coercing more than 50 Hindu teachers, professors, and government officials into resigning from their positions, highlighting a disturbing trend of religious intolerance and persecution.

Following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the country has witnessed a significant escalation in attacks on Hindu places of worship, businesses, and properties, with at least 20o incidents reported. This alarming trend suggests a growing climate of religious intolerance and persecution, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

Despite the alarming rise in communal attacks on Hindus, Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, has downplayed the incidents, attributing them to ‘political mischief‘. This stance has been criticized for potentially shielding the Islamist perpetrators responsible for the violence against minority communities.
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_Inputs from Agencies.