Bangladeshi Hindu Leader Responds To Reports Over Attacks On Hindus

Gobinda Pramanik, General Secretary of the Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajot, responded to widespread rumors being spread on social media and by some Indian media outlets regarding alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh amidst the ongoing protests in the South Asian country.

In a video that is being widely shared on social media, Gobinda Pramanik, after introducing himself as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajot, stated that there have been no incidents of attacks on temples or Hindus. However, he noted that the houses of some Hindu leaders of the Awami League, who were very active, as well as those of some Muslim leaders, were attacked.

“After Sheikh Hasina’s resignation last afternoon, the Hindu community of this country thought they would be attacked in a massive way and there’d be incidents of arson. But leaders of BNP and Jamaat instructed their functionaries to ensure that Hindu homes were not attacked and temples were protected,” Pramanik said in the vide.

He added that temples are being protected and there has been no incident of attack on temples and Hindus. “Houses of some Hindu leaders of the Awami League who were very active as well as those of some Muslim leaders were attacked. Some opportunistic people attacked a few local temples, but no big incident,” he asserted.

He also alleged that ‘Republic’ TV from India spreading rumours and making strange claims.

“Today I saw them making up stories about Sheikh Hasina. They are extremely pained at Bangabandhu’s statue being demolished. I told a journalist who called me, “If you are so worried about Hasina, please remove PM Modi and announce Sheikh Hasina as your PM. She will protect India and also the Seven Sisters. You are saying every day that Seven Sisters would not exist if Hasina is not there. Now this is a big opportunity for you. You make Sheikh Hasina India’s PM,” Pramanik said.

However, Indian news agency Press Trust of India reported on Tuesday after quoting community leaders, that a number of Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised, women assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party killed in violence in Bangladesh following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.