Several thousand people from the Hindu community took to the street in Chattogram on Friday (13 September) and placed their eight-point demand including establishment of "speedy trial tribunal" for the swift trial of minority persecution cases.
Ensuring quick and appropriate punishment for the guilty, providing adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the victims and enactment of the 'Minority Protection Law' immediately were among their demands.
At a demonstration rally at Jamal Khan, the Hindu leaders from greater Chattongam also demanded establishment of a Ministry to deal with Minority Affairs, reserved seats for the minorities and asked the coordinators of the students to sit with them, giving them 15 days to act.
The Sanatani Hindu leaders said they would not return to their homes until their demands were met, including compensation and rehabilitation of the affected people from 5 August.
They also demanded initiatives to upgrade the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a "Hindu Foundation," and similarly, elevate the Buddhist and Christian Religious Welfare Trust to Foundation.
Formulating a "Law for the Recovery and Preservation of Endowed Property" and ensuring the proper implementation of the "Vested Property Return Act" was among the demands.
They sought steps to construct worship places for minorities in every government and private university and university colleges and allocate prayer rooms in every hostel.
Modernising the "Sanskrit and Pali Education Board" and declaring a 5-day public holiday during the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival was also in their demand list.
Along with this, necessary leave might be provided for the major religious festivals of each minority community.
Meanwhile, Paris-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is “deeply alarmed” by the recent wave of violent attacks targeting minority communities in Bangladesh.
The destruction of homes, businesses, and places of worship—particularly those belonging to Hindu, Christian, Ahmadiyya, and ethnic minority communities—represents a grave violation of human rights and threatens the safety and dignity of these vulnerable populations, the organization said in a statement on Friday.
