The World stood witness to the destruction of Hindu Temples in Bangladesh and communal violence against the Hindu community. Despite that A.K Abdul Momen, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh denied these incidents. He held the blame on “enthusiastic media and individuals”. He refuted that there were any incidents of communal violence, destruction of temples, or rapes. After all this, he said that the government of Bangladesh is committed to religious Harmony.
From 13 to 19 October, the Muslim mob in Bangladesh incited communal violence against Hindus in the country. This was held during the Durga Puja festival, where 120 temples and makeshift worship arrangements have been vandalized. As of now, the police have arrested and taken action against more than 500 people. While the government has announced compensation for victims.
We agree that the condition of minorities like Christian, Hindus, Sikhs is better under PM Hassina’s regime. Even the representation of the Hindu community has increased in the country’s Jatiya Sangsad and government offices. The government gives financial support and security to Durga puja sandals. The PM has given a slogan in Bengali that means Religion is one’s own, but festivals are common to all. The PM also provided aid to temples that were going through challenges during the lockdown and pandemic.
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But, there is another side to these deeds too. The governments and authorities in South Asia often try to deny or cover the communal violence in their countries. So, Bangladesh is no different. The biggest example is the attack and violence during the Durga Puja festival this year. It is spread in more than 70 districts and evidence suggests that it was pre-planned violence, raising questions on the government.
The PM was very critical of the Islamic radicals who committed atrocities during the formation years of that country. The war crime tribunals gave the order for the execution of Islamic radicals who were guilty of brutalities during the liberation war of Bangladesh. She was also strict on the perpetrators of the July 2016 bombings, and seven convicts in the case were given death sentences. But, all this was done when the violence was against the nation as a whole.
When it comes to Hindu Minorities, the PM doesn’t show up with a similar strict action that raises questions about the secular stance of the government. A report by human rights organization, Odhikar, states that between 2007 and 2019, 12 people belonging to other religions were killed, 1,536 injured, and 1,013 properties and 390 temples attacked. Hindus have suffered largely in it.
Islamic radicalism is increasing in Bangladesh and the counteractions by PM Hasina are not sufficient to curb it. The government maintains that the country is inclined towards a ‘secular’ stance in education curriculum, but the number of Madrasas is growing. In the year 2019, the poems by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Humayun Azad, and Rabindranath Tagore, etc were removed from the syllabus. They were replaced with Islamic pieces.
On the whole, the challenge is not just to ensure security for Minorities. The challenge is about a larger identity. A new concept of Bengali Muslim was created during the Liberation War of Bangladesh by leaders like Mujibur Rehman and Fazlul Haq. The “Bangabandhu” Sheikh Mujibur Rehman who is also addressed as the father of the nation in Bangladesh envisioned the concept of a ‘secular’ Bangladesh. After coming into power, his government infused the concept of secularism in the nation’s constitution in the year 1972. It seems that his visions and concept of secularism and Bengali Muslim are being worn away.
His successor General Zia-ur-Rehman and then General Ershad were the people responsible for counteracting the vision of Mujibur Rehman. General Ershad declared that the region of Bangladesh would be ‘Islam’ in 1988. Even though PM Sheikh Hasina brought back the concept of secularism in the constitution. It was done through the 15th Amendment in 2011. Now, the 4 pillars of the country’s constitution are secularism, nationalism, socialism, and democracy. So, overall, Bangladesh has an odd stance of being a secular as well as an Islamic state.
India still has hope that PM Hasina can complete the challenge of a peaceful and secular Bangladesh. A light of this hope was when the State Minister for Information Murad Hassan said that Bangladesh is a secular nation, and it would revert to the 1972 Constitution. However, it will not be easy because it is a very sensitive issue, especially after the recent communal violence that occurred in the country.
The challenge before PM Hasina is to restore the vision and legacy of her father. Not just for her, this is a challenge before a majority of the South Asian Nations face communal violence.
