Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh not communal, issue 'exaggerated': Muhammad Yunus
PTC News Desk: Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim administration, has stated that the issue of attacks on minority Hindus in his nation is "exaggerated" and questioned the manner in which India depicted it.
In an interview with a news agency, Yunus stated that attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are political rather than communal.
He suggested that the attacks were not communal, but rather the result of political turmoil, as it is widely assumed that the majority of Hindus supported the now-deposed Awami League regime.
"I told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that this is exaggerated. This issue has multiple dimensions. When the country was in upheaval following the atrocities committed by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, people who supported them were also targeted," he added.
During the student-led unrest that erupted following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's removal, the minority Hindu population was targeted with vandalism of their businesses and properties, as well as the demolition of Hindu temples.
After massive anti-government riots erupted on August 5, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India.
"Now, in addition to beating up Awami League cadres, they also beat up Hindus because it is widely assumed in Bangladesh that Hindus mean Awami League supporters. I'm not saying what happened is right, but some individuals are using it as a reason to seize property. There is no clear distinction between Awami League supporters and Hindus," he stated.
In his first direct communication with New Delhi last month, just after taking over as head of Bangladesh's interim government, Yunus assured Prime Minister Modi that Dhaka would prioritise the security and safety of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Hindus, who constituted 22% of Bangladesh's population during the 1971 Liberation War, now account for approximately 8% of the country's 170 million people and have primarily supported the Awami League, which is noted for its secular stance.
- PTC NEWS
