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Members of the Bangladeshi Hindu community hold banners and chant slogans against violence targeting the country’s minorities during a protest in Dhaka. (File image: AFP)
Top Intelligence Sources have told CNN-News18 that they are watching these developments and are in touch with senior functionaries in Bangladesh government.
Despite strong appeals from India, there has been no relief for the Hindus in Bangladesh. From threat letters against celebration of Durga Puja to forced retirement to Hindu officers, the suppression of minorities continues in Bangladesh. Top Intelligence Sources have told CNN-News18 that they are watching these developments and are in touch with senior functionaries in Bangladesh government.
“Our mission in Dhaka is watching these developments and we are in touch with senior government functionaries of Bangladesh. These demands are unwarranted. The Muhammad Yunus government is responsible for the spread of this hatred against Hindus immediately after Sheikh Hasina’s departure,” sources said.
“This is concerning us and we will take up the matter with concerned authorities,” they added.
Anonymous Threat Letters
Hindus in Bangladesh have received anonymous letters, threatening them to not allow them to celebrate Durga Puja unless they pay 5 lakh taka. The letters, delivered to the leaders of various puja celebration committees, also said failure to comply would result in severe consequences.
According to reports, some committees have cancelled the event fearing daily threats while others have gone to police.
The letter even threatened the committees saying, “If you report to the media, you will be cut into pieces.”
Muslims in Bangladesh also protested and demanded to stop Durga Puja in Dhaka. They said they perform Namaz in the ground during Eid and if Hindus started doing Puja, the ground will become “unholy”.
Hindu Freedom Fighter Attacked
On Sunday, Hindu freedom fighter Khagendra Nath Pramanik, 74, was attacked with a sharp weapon at his house in Gaibandha’s Gobindaganj Upazila. According to reports, he is a freedom fighter and has no enemies in the area.
Hindu Officer Forced to Retire
Bangladesh Civil Services topper of 1997 batch and Bangladesh Police Additional (IGP) Devdas Bhattacharya has been forced to retire. Earlier, the government dismissed him allegedly because he belonged to a minority community.
During the BNP Jamaat rule, he was denied promotion three times, reportedly for being a Hindu. This time, he was forced to retire from the job.
