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| Dhaka University students, teachers protest against attacks on Hindus |
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Dhaka, Hundreds of students and teachers of Dhaka University and other institutions blocked a major road crossing in the Bangladesh capital on Monday to protest against the ongoing attacks on Durga Puja venues and Hindu temples and homes in different parts of the country.
Hundreds of DU students gathered at Shahbagh intersection while some other protesters under the banner of Swamibag Ashram ISKCON held a rally at the Jatiya Press Club earlier in the day and marched towards Shahbagh.
The DU students earlier gathered at the TSC from Jagannath Hall and other dormitories, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Traffic movement came to a standstill due to the demonstration as the roads to Paltan, Science Laboratory, Bangla Motor, and the TSC were blocked by the agitators.
They called off the protests in the afternoon after issuing their seven-point demands that include ensuring the highest punishment for the perpetrators, compensation for the victims, repairing the damaged temples, and forming a minority protection commission.
They also demanded 15% allocation in the national budget for the religious minorities and turning the Hindu Welfare Trust into a foundation.
A memorandum was also sent to the Prime Minister’s Office demanding quick and effective actions by the government.
Addressing the protesters at Shahbagh, Jagannath Hall Provost Mihir Lal Saha said: "The spirit of independence of our country is not being upheld anymore."
He sought the prime minister’s intervention for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance demonstrated in Manikganj to protest the recent attacks on Hindu lives, homes, establishments and temples across the country by fanatical and extremist groups.
The human chain program was organized on Monday morning at the Manikganj Press Club premises.
The speakers said that a class of fanatical extremists are using religious sentiments of the common people to attack, torture and persecute the Hindu community in order to destroy the country's communal bond.
Criminals are repeatedly getting away with committing such crimes, depriving the victims of any justice due to the government’s negligence and corrupt officials in the administration, they added.
Communal tensions have gripped Bangladesh over the past few days following allegations of the Quran being dishonoured at a Puja pavilion on October 13 triggering violence in several districts across the country, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Dozens of people have been arrested in connection with the attacks and the spreading of communal hatred on social media during the largest festival of Hindus. Security was ramped up at houses of worship, and Border Guard Bangladesh troops were dispatched to more than two dozen districts. The 10-day festival came to a close on Friday with the immersion of Durga idols.
At least four people were killed in police shootings during the attack on Puja locations in Chandpur's Hajiganj on October 13 and in Noakhali's Choumuhani, attacks on Hindu temples left two people dead on October 15.
The government and law enforcement agencies have described the incidents as “planned” in a bid to destabilize the country.
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