Sun Nov 03 12:44:40 UTC 2024: ## Tens of Thousands of Hindus Protest in Bangladesh Demanding Protection from Attacks
**Chattogram, Bangladesh** – Tens of thousands of Hindus took to the streets of Chattogram on Friday, demanding protection from recent attacks and the withdrawal of sedition charges against community leaders. The protest, one of many held across Bangladesh, saw an estimated 30,000 people gather, chanting for their rights and safety.
The protests come amidst a reported surge in violence against Hindus since the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s secular government in August. Hindu groups claim over 2,000 attacks have occurred, though Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government, has dismissed these figures as exaggerated.
Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s population, report facing increasing threats from hard-line Islamist groups. International leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have voiced their concern over the violence, while US presidential candidate Donald Trump condemned it as “barbaric” on social media.
The recent protests were triggered by sedition charges filed against 19 Hindu leaders following an October 25 rally where a saffron flag was allegedly raised above the Bangladesh flag. Hindu activists have been demanding a law to protect minorities, a dedicated ministry for minority affairs, and a special tribunal to prosecute crimes against minorities since August.
The protests highlight the growing anxieties of Bangladesh’s Hindu community, who are seeking assurance of their safety and security from the interim government. The situation remains tense, and the government’s response to the ongoing unrest will be closely observed by both domestic and international observers.
First Piper 