August 5, 2024, marks a somber chapter in Bangladesh's history. Former three-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was compelled to flee, leaving behind her government and country. From urban centers to remote villages, radicals targeted minorities, especially Hindus.
Hindu Temples Set Ablaze in Many Areas
From the night of the 5th, Bangladeshi extremists and vandals aimed their wrath at Hindu minorities spread across 58 regions. Places like Meherpur, Chittagong, and Sherpur saw Hindu temples being burnt down or vandalized. Aaj Tak's team is on the ground to report on conditions five days later.
Unspoken Unrest in the Air
Stepping out of Dhaka Airport, a scene unfolds that surpasses the imagination. The city outside Dhaka International Airport is busy yet enveloped in silent unrest. Throughout Dhaka, police presence is nowhere to be seen.
Students Managing Traffic
The city's law and order are now under the military's purview. Children from school and college, part of the Bangladesh Scout Cadet Corps and other institutions, wield batons to manage traffic. Military patrols or armored vehicle convoys are stationed outside the airport, and soldiers stand at bunkers armed with advanced machine guns.
Uncertainty Over the Future
Crowds that usually thronged markets morning and evening have dwindled. The military now oversees these areas. Protests against Sheikh Hasina's quota law began with the youth. An interim government led by Dr. Yunus has been established, but uncertainty looms over Bangladesh's future.
Jahida, overseeing street operations, tells Aaj Tak that while Bangladesh's future seems secure, concerns linger over certain individuals tarnishing protests by targeting Hindus and their temples.
The Old Dhaka City's Struggle
Fakhruddin indicates that possibly young leaders from Sheikh Hasina's Awami League instigated attacks on minorities to discredit protests. Nonetheless, these youths declare that conditions are stable now, and many have stationed themselves from villages to cities to protect their Hindu brethren. The situation in Old Dhaka city remains grim. Schools, colleges, and universities are shut down.
Youth armed with sticks and batons are managing traffic on the streets. Police stations are deserted. Protests erupt everywhere. Even on Saturday, demonstrators stormed the Supreme Court, demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice. Protester and Bar Council member Rakib informed Aaj Tak that several Supreme Court judges acted on the Hasina government's directives and should resign. Under pressure, the Chief Justice submitted a resignation to the President, and protesters remained entrenched in the Supreme Court compound until evening, forcing the army to take over security.
Demands for Justice and Protection from the New Government
Meanwhile, a large number of Bangladeshi Hindus descended onto the streets. On Saturday evening, not hundreds but thousands of Hindu community members gathered in Dhaka, demanding justice and protection from the new government. Angered by temple fires, Hindu society rallied in Dhaka, raising slogans for their safety with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram'. Subrato from Mirpur told Aaj Tak that while the world remains silent on the atrocities against Hindus, Bangladesh is their homeland, and they refuse to leave.
The Fear Still Grips Bangladeshi Hindus
Charu Chandra Das, ISKCON temple secretary in Dhaka, shared with Aaj Tak how Hindu families targeted by attacks sought help and remain in fear. Nonetheless, he noted that normalcy is returning in some areas, with local people stepping up to help. Conditions in Bangladesh seem slightly improved compared to the past two days. However, the absence of an active government, missing police on the streets, and a lack of governance raise questions about Bangladesh hurtling towards anarchy.
