New Delhi: After the attack on Hindus in Brampton temple in Canada, Hindus of Bangladesh have also come under target. Due to this, violence has once again started gaining momentum in Bangladesh. According to the information, joint forces led by the army patrolled some parts of Bangladesh's south-eastern port city Chittagong on Wednesday. A day before that, a clash had taken place over a Facebook post made by a Muslim grocery shopkeeper against ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and several people were injured. Officials and eyewitnesses said businessman Usman Ali had described ISKCON as a “terrorist group” on Facebook, leading to tension in the area as the Hindu community living in Hazari Gali area expressed resentment against it.
Hazari Gali is mainly inhabited by people from the Hindu community who own jewelery shops and wholesale medicine shops. Eyewitnesses said that there was a brief clash throughout the night over this comment made on ISKCON. During this time, many people were injured due to lathicharge by the army, paramilitary forces of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and policemen who reached the spot. During this period, shops and business establishments remained closed in Hazari Gali area. Here army soldiers are patrolling in jeeps along with the police. Lieutenant Colonel Firdous Ahmed told a press conference on Wednesday that a crowd gathered in front of Ali's shop, after which joint forces reached the spot and took Ali and his brother into custody. “The angry mob threw acid used in jewelery making and broken glass bottles from nearby buildings, injuring five army personnel and seven policemen,” he said.
Ahmed said the joint forces have detained 80 suspects and the culprits are being identified by reviewing local intelligence and CCTV footage for legal action.
India enraged by repeated attacks on Hindus
The Indian Foreign Ministry has expressed a strong reaction to the repeated attacks on Hindus. India has urged Dhaka to take action against “extremist” elements and ensure the safety of the country's Hindu community. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the alleged attack on members of the Hindu community in Chittagong. He said the tension was the result of “provocative posts” on social media. Jaiswal said that India appeals to the Bangladesh government to take action against such extremist elements and ensure the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.
American lawmakers asked Bangladesh government to ensure safety of Hindus
The echo of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh has reached America also. Indian-American lawmaker Raja Krishnamurthy has urged the US State Department to work for the safety of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh after renewed attacks on Hindus in Dhaka. There have been many incidents of vandalism of properties of minority Hindus as well as temples in Bangladesh. Such incidents are happening during and after the student-led movement in Bangladesh. The State Department on Monday briefed Krishnamurthy about efforts being made to protect the rights of religious minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.
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