Screengrab of video shows Bangladesh Army's action on Hindus. (X/MeghUpdates)
Bangladesh Army action against Hindus: Tensions erupted in Chittagong’s Hazari Goli area after a Muslim trader’s controversial post referring to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as a “terrorist organization” led to widespread anger among local Hindus. The incident has fueled a deepening crisis, with reports of aggressive responses from Bangladeshi security forces.
The uproar began after local trader Osman Mollah allegedly posted a Facebook message criticizing ISKCON and Sanatana Dharma, labeling the organization as a “terrorist group.” Enraged by the inflammatory post, Hindu residents organized a protest outside Mollah’s shop, calling for accountability. Local reports indicate that Mollah was moved to “safe custody” following the incident.
On Tuesday night, police and army units reportedly conducted a raid on Hazari Goli, targeting Hindu establishments. Videos of the operation quickly spread online, showing intense scenes of security forces allegedly clamping down on the community.
A huge disturbance is going on in Chittagong's Hazari Gull after demonstration against FB post calling ISCKON a terrorist org.
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) November 5, 2024
Bangladesh Army, Police and Radicals have started attacking Hindus and their houses. Even CCTV's are being broken to hide the slaughter of hindus pic.twitter.com/m269rg1mWC
Saifuddin Tuhin, a journalist in Chittagong, described the unrest, stating, “A local Muslim youth’s Facebook post criticizing ISKCON angered the Hindu community, leading to protests and confrontations with law enforcement. During the clashes, Hindus threw bricks and other objects. In response, a joint operation by police and army was carried out.”
Reports suggest that during the operation, some demonstrators allegedly used acid or other substances against law enforcement officers. A Hindu community leader noted, “At night, joint forces raided Hazari Goli, arresting around 100 suspects. While some were released after questioning, the full details remain unclear due to a power outage during the raid.”
Prothom Alo, a Bangla Daily, reported that blank shots were fired during the raid to manage the situation.
Recently, certain factions in Bangladesh have demanded that ISKCON be banned. These calls intensified following an editorial by Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, which was critical of ISKCON. Additionally, “Inqilab Manch,” a local group, has called for restrictions on the organization.
ISKCON leaders in Dhaka have requested an apology from Rahman, urging the Bangladeshi authorities to take action against hate speech targeting the Hindu community.
In response to the alarming developments, ISKCON spokesperson Radharaman Das appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene. “It’s very disturbing news coming from Chittagong—Hindus are being attacked. The army seems to have sided with the other community. We don’t know how many casualties there are. They’re targeting anyone,” Das stated. He expressed concerns over escalating violence, noting, "A Muslim student group recently held a press conference against ISKCON, clearly showing their agenda.”
Das added that ISKCON’s role in unifying Hindus has unsettled certain factions, urging Modi to step in to protect the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Hindus constitute approximately 8% of Bangladesh’s population of 170 million, with many traditionally supporting the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina. However, the recent tensions have raised concerns among Hindu leaders, especially in light of recent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces.
On August 5, following weeks of protests and deadly clashes that reportedly claimed over 600 lives, Sheikh Hasina’s government faced upheaval. The student-led movement that emerged ultimately led to Hasina’s departure, with Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus heading an interim government following her flight to India.
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