A protest rally was held on Friday by students of Dhaka University (DU) after their religion Hinduism was subjected to insulting comments made on social media.
The rally was conducted by the "Hindu Students of Dhaka University" and the "Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance" in opposition to insulting remarks against Hinduism and one of its gods.
The protest was triggered by comments made by Md Abu Sayem, a student of the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University, who has allegedly made insulting comments about Hinduism on social media. The comments have created widespread outrage among Hindus both within the university and throughout Bangladesh. The protesting students are calling for the university to take swift action against Sayem, including suspension and other disciplinary actions.
Besides, the students have also demanded that the university take measures to avoid the misrepresentation of Sanatan Dharma in the academic environment. They are requesting the institution to take more measures to avoid the misrepresentation of Hinduism during literary analysis classes. The protesters also demand the university take action against derogatory posts targeting minorities on the university's official "Dhaka Bissobiddaloy Shikkharthi Sangsad" Facebook group, reports *The Daily Star*.
The demonstration comes against the backdrop of mounting cases of violence and persecution of minority groups in Bangladesh. Human rights groups and media have recorded cases of attacks on Hindu properties, including homes, businesses, and temples, particularly after the exit of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. For the period under review, Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK) has documented 147 cases of vandalism that include 36 cases of fire-setting of Hindu properties.
This escalation of violence against minorities—Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and the Ahmadiyya community—has only increased since the establishment of the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus. Violations have included attacks on worship sites, businesses, and acts of idol desecration and have added to mounting concerns regarding the protection and rights of minority groups.
India, Bangladesh's neighbor, has also expressed its displeasure. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called for Bangladesh's caretaker government to assume complete responsibility for the security of rights and safety of the Hindus and other minorities. MEA official Randhir Jaiswal also stressed the need for detailed investigations of attacks on minorities, violence, arson, and murders, and requested such actions not be politicized.
The culprits of these crimes should be brought to justice, and we expect Bangladesh to deliver justice," Jaiswal stated at a media briefing.
With religious intolerance and violence worsening by the day, the position of minorities in Bangladesh is still uncertain. The ongoing protests at Dhaka University are an indication of increasing discontent among the Hindu population, which is increasingly feeling exposed in the face of increasing sectarian tensions and violence.
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