Will Hindus flee Bangladesh under pressure from Jamaat-e-Islami?

Will hundreds of thousands of Hindus from Bangladesh come to India and seek refuge? Although many Hindus crossed the border and came to India when their neighbourhood was attacked after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled, they were convinced by the BSF to return. The exodus of Hindus is yet to be seen in the current crisis. This is contrary to the statements of West Bengal BJP leader Subhendu Adhikari. He stated that India should prepare to receive at least 10 million Bangladeshi Hindus who will have no choice but to leave their homes and hearths.

Hindus are attacked

Subhendu Adhikari is wrong. Till date, there is no exodus of Hindus from Bangladesh. Why? Immediately after the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country to seek refuge in neighboring India, the government plunged into anarchy. Hindus were victims of violence, their homes, places of worship, community centers and educational institutions were attacked. Some Hindus were killed. But there were also cases when Muslims came in large numbers to protect the Hindus of their neighborhood. The famous Dhakeshwari Temple is one such example, which was surrounded by a group of Muslims so that anti-social elements could not attack it.

Hindus demonstrate

Thousands of Hindus took to the streets in Comilla, Rangpur, Sylhet, Barishal, Mymensingh, Jessore and other places chanting the slogan “Aamar Mati, Aamar Desh, Chhadbo Na, Chhadbo Na” (It is our land, it is our land, we will not leave it, we will not leave it). They also sang the song “You ask us to leave the land every time, does this land belong to you and your grandfather?”

Hindus refuse to leave Bangladesh

It was unprecedented that hundreds of thousands of Hindus marched on the streets of Bangladesh, reiterating their vows not to leave the country and declaring their allegiance to the country. Previously, Hindus had fled Bangladesh and sought refuge in India after being attacked during the change of government. But this time, they united, demonstrated and raised their voices.

Muhammad Yunus visits the Dhakeshwari Temple

This time, the voices of Hindus were heard. The chief adviser to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, visited the Dhakeshwari temple and assured its chief priest and other Hindu leaders that they would ensure their safety and maintain law and order. Before visiting the temple, the Nobel Prize winner appealed for calm and social harmony. He asked the student leaders why they could not guarantee the safety of Hindus when they had carried out a revolution and overthrown their regime.

Hindus are not yet out of danger

Political observers believe that Hindus are not out of danger yet. Bangladesh is in a transition phase and soon Islamist forces may advance and claim their pound of flesh. Many believe that the student movement, which arose out of frustration with the government of Sheikh Hasina, has been hijacked by the Bangladesh Muslim Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Jamaat-e-Islami is waiting for the right moment

Jamaat-e-Islami is waiting patiently for the right moment as it has found its base among the Islamist-oriented people. The student movement has enabled it to penetrate deeper into the society, take root and strengthen its presence. Most likely, it will join hands with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and contest the general elections, whenever they are held.

Why are Hindus the target of attacks?

If general elections are held in Bangladesh, it is very likely that the Islamist organisation will stoke anti-Hindu sentiments to consolidate its base. In an attempt to gain support among the Muslim majority population, Jamaat-e-Islami may stoke ethnic sentiments and even attack Hindu families to instill fear in them.

Hindus are considered to be supporters of the Awami League and India, which is the main reason they are targeted when there is a change of government. When the Awami League lost the election in 2004 and the BNP came to power, Hindus were attacked and some of them fled the country. In the next general election, whenever it is held, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are likely to whip up sentiments that could cause problems for the Hindu minority.