Thousands of minority Hindu community members staged massive protest rallies in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka and the north-eastern port city of Chattagram for the second consecutive day yesterday. Their rally blocked traffic for over three hours at Shahbagh in the central part of Dhaka. They were demanding protection amid nationwide vandalism that saw attacks on their homes, businesses and temples. Their demand included special tribunals to expedite trials of those who persecute the minorities, allocation of 10 per cent parliamentary seats for the minorities, and enactment of a minority protection law, among others.

Thousands of Muslim protestors, including students, also joined them in Dhaka expressing solidarity for the cause of minorities. Hindu communities have faced the brunt of the violence and devastation after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister. Several Hindu temples, households and businesses have been vandalised, and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party have been killed in the violence since then. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, a prominent organisation advocating for minority rights, issued an open letter to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, detailing 205 incidents of persecution across 52 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.

Meanwhile, Indian American lawmakers have called for Congressional hearings on attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. In a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Congressman Shri Thanedar demanded Congressional hearings to learn more about the failures to protect the Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh, and how to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Mr. Thanedar and another Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi appealed to Mr Blinken to urge the administration of Muhammad Yunus to end the violence against Hindus in the aftermath of Shiekh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister.