Dhaka, Oct 8: The Hindus in Bangladesh will celebrate Durga Puja in a subdued manner this year to register their protest against attacks on the community following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, according to minority leaders.
Communal tensions rose in the country after Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation on August 5 following protests against a controversial job quota system, with over 2,000 reported attacks against the community in the last two months.
Hindus — the largest minority group in the country — now find themselves at a pivotal crossroads in the wake of unprecedented violence and political upheaval in the country.
Fear has overshadowed the usual vibrancy of Durga Puja, prompting many to tone down their traditional celebrations and festivities.
“This year, we are just organising Durga Puja, and there will be no Durga Puja celebrations,” Ranjan Karmakar, a Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) praesidium member, told PTI.
“This is a form of protest from the Hindu community, and the Hindus are also not in the frame of mind to participate in any form of festivities following the continuous attacks on our community since August this year,” Karmakar said, adding that many puja organisers were facing threats and ransom calls.
Basudeb Dhar, Chairperson of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said that while the government has assured their safety, the community has decided to hold the festival in a subdued manner by conducting Durga Puja rituals and avoiding all forms of festivities, including cultural programmes.
“…we have urged all puja organisers to display protest banners peacefully. These banners will list our demands, which include setting up an impartial investigation panel to ensure justice for minority persecution cases and the creation of a Minority Protection Act,” he said.
As many as 2,010 incidents of attacks on the Hindu community were reported in Bangladesh from August 5 to August 20, ranging from murder and physical assaults to sexual assaults and attacks on temples, according to data collected by the BHBCOP. Bangladesh’s government has not released official figures on the number of attacks.
Meanwhile, another Hindu leader, who is also an organiser of a Durga Puja, claimed several puja committees have “received anonymous threat letters demanding large sums of money—specifically, Bangladesh taka 3-5 lakh—to allow their celebrations to continue without disruption.”
“Is this a secure atmosphere where we can hold Durga Puja celebrations peacefully? This is not an isolated incident but has now become a norm this year,” he said.
Radical Islamic groups are opposing the open celebration of Durga Puja and nationwide holidays during the festival, while reports of violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, have surged, igniting fears for the safety of those planning to celebrate from October 9 to 13 this year.
Reports of vandalism of Durga idols and the looting of donation boxes served as chilling reminders of past violence, leaving the once-bustling streets filled with devotees eerily quiet and overshadowing the vibrant colours of the festival with fears of potential communal strife.
Historically, the Awami League, recognised for its secular stance, received substantial support from the Hindu community, but the sudden power vacuum resulted in a wave of violence that disproportionately affected community members.
US urges B’desh to protect rights of minority
The United States said it wants to see the rights of the minority communities protected in Bangladesh as Hindus celebrate their largest festival of Durga Puja.
The statement from the US comes in the wake of increasing attacks on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh following the resignation of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her escape to India in August.
“Of course, we want to see the rights of minorities protected in Bangladesh as also is true all around the world,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
Miller was responding to a question on the threat being posed to the Hindu community by some religious fundamentalists as they celebrate their largest festival, Durga Puja.
India has urged the interim Bangladesh government to ensure peaceful religious events for the Hindu community in the South Asian country.
More than 600 persons, including Hindus, were killed during violent protests in Bangladesh culminating in the ouster of Hasina-led Awami League government, according to a UN report. (PTI)
