Australian MP raises concerns over Hindu genocide in Bangladesh, ask Hasina govt to take action to protect minorities

Canberra, October 27: Expressing concerns over the atrocities inflicted upon the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh, Federal Member of Australian Parliament Jullian Leeser asked the Bangladesh Government to take more action to protect the minorities.

 

While talking in the Australian Parliament, he raised the issue and said that recent celebrations of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja had been overshadowed by the atrocities perpetrated by the violent extremists fuelled by social media misinformation.

 

“In recent days, there have been widespread reports of killings, sexual violence, arson against homes and businesses owned by Hindus in the desecration of temples. Human rights groups in Bangladesh have documented 3679 attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh since 2013. However, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council says that the number could be much higher than that,” Leeser added.

 

He also added that "The report shows that there have been 550 cases of vandalism and arson against Hindu homes, 440 against shops owned by Hindus and 1,670 against Hindu temples and places of worship. Community leaders have said that the violence of last week had been the worst mob violence against Hindus in Bangladesh's history."

 

 

He also pointed out the report that has shown that the Hindu community in Bangladesh, which makes up approximately 10 percent of the population, is shrinking as people flee violence. "I call on the Bangladeshi government to take more action to protect its citizens now," he added.

 

Communal tensions have gripped Bangladesh over the past few days following allegations of the Quran being dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla on October 13, triggering violence in several districts across the country.

 

At least four people were killed in police shootings during the attack on Puja locations in Chandpur's Hajiganj on October 13. In Noakhali's Choumuhani, attacks on Hindu temples left two people dead on October 15.

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