Bangladesh's Hindu Minority Faces Violence After Prime Minister Ousted
Hindus in Bangladesh say they're being targeted by politically motivated mobs over perceived affiliations with the previous government. Hindu-owned houses and businesses have been targeted, and community members are stepping up to defend the country's religious minority.
Transcript
00:00A mother and daughter, distraught, as they take in what's left of their house in the
00:06Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, ransacked and burned by an angry mob.
00:11This is just one of the many incidents of violence that the country's Hindu minority
00:15has faced following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
00:20They are shivering.
00:23Every family, everywhere, even in Dhaka, even in Dhaka who are in the flats, they are shivering.
00:30Since the Prime Minister fled the country after weeks of violent protests, the anger
00:36against her here has turned to the Hindu population, who are seen as supportive of the former leader's
00:42political party.
00:44Of Bangladesh's 170 million people, only 8% are Hindu.
00:50But in this largely Muslim nation, they've historically backed Hasina's Awami League,
00:55which presents itself as a more secular party and friendlier towards the Hindus, in contrast
01:01to hardline Islamist politicians.
01:04Since Hasina's departure, around 200 attacks by mobs against Hindu homes, businesses and
01:10temples have been recorded.
01:13But political analysts say the animosity doesn't stem from religion.
01:17So there are a few Hindus, they are Awami League leaders, they hold some positions in
01:26the Awami League.
01:28That's the major cause for these attacks.
01:33It's not religiously motivated.
01:36In response, Bangladeshi Hindus have taken to the streets, demanding justice and the
01:41government's protection, while young Muslim community members called for volunteers to
01:46help defend Hindu temples against further attacks.
01:50The current interim government has denounced the violence, and vowed to conduct an investigation.
01:55We will investigate all these incidents, and we have a request for the Sanghalugu community
02:04to be assured that the Bangladeshi people and government will stand by you.
02:12And many other Bangladeshis have come forward, too.
02:16Standing united with their Hindu neighbors, determined to rise as one above the violence
02:22and the fear of these chaotic times.
02:26Devintay and Gina Lopez for Taiwan Plus.