Unrest in Bangladesh

By Ajay Roy

Communal attacks are going on against minorities in Bangladesh. Islamic fundamentalists are organizing this. On 26^th November, the Acting General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Manindra Kumar Nath, informed that 2010 attacks against minorities were reported in Bangladesh. That affected 1705 families. These incidents include murder, molestation, and kidnapping.[1]

 

Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested recently on sedition charges. He is the spokesperson of a Bangladesh-based Hindu organisation. Minorities are protesting against these incidents.  

 

It is noteworthy that in India, BJP-RSS are also using these issues in their propaganda to increase communal polarization. 

 

On the other hand, in the garment sector of Bangladesh, workers organised protests in various demands including wage increase in October-November. They organised strikes also. However, the interim government resorted to heavy police repression. 

 

In July-August, there was a mass protest in the South Asian country. It started first as a student protest against the 30% quota system reservation in government jobs for descendants of freedom fighters. But the government resorted to heavy repression. The Supreme Court then took steps. It decreased the quota to 5%.[2] But already, 200 protestors were dead.

 

Then, the mass protest grew. It was actually against Sheikh Hasina's increasingly authoritarian and corrupt government. People wanted democracy. She had to leave the country. Her party, Awami League's leaders, were also attacked. That led to regime change.

 

During this chaos, the Bangladesh National Party and fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami increased their strength again. Fundamentalists are now targeting minorities, too. US imperialism is also active to destabilise the situation to increase their influence in the region. 

 

Interim government was formed. Muhammad Yunus has become the Chief Advisor in this government. Which has military backing. But unrest is going on. Economic condition is also deteriorating. High price rise is a serious problem now.

 

It is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to maintain peace and harmony as well as to give security to all minorities. 

  

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