Members of the minority Hindu community on Saturday held a rally blocking Shahbagh for the second day in protest against attacks on their homes, businesses, and places of worship in various parts of the country.
At the rally, they raised eight demands that included establishing a fast-track tribunal to prosecute those responsible for minority persecution, ensuring appropriate and swift punishment, and arranging for proper compensation and rehabilitation for the victims, enacting the Minority Protection Act immediately, forming a ministry of minority affairs,聽 modernising the Sanskrit and Pali Education Board, provide a 5-day holiday during the Durga Puja festival.
The protest rally began at around 3:00pm, causing traffic to come to a halt on Shahbagh and surrounding roads.
Vishwanath, a participant in the protest and a member of the Bangladesh Conscious Sanatani Citizens Organisation, said that Hindu homes, temples, and businesses were being attacked and looted in different places.
鈥榃e were born in this country. Where will we go? No matter who come to power, we demand our safety. We demand security of our homes and religious establishments,鈥� he said
At the rally, participants chanted various slogans, while many others were seen holding posters with demands.
Some of the posters read, 鈥楾he country is still not free. Why are temples attacked? We demand answers.鈥�
Thousands of members of the Hindu community held a similar protest at Shahbagh on Friday, to denounce communal violence.
Since August 5, when Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country, there have been reports of attacks, looting, and arson targeting various government and private establishments, businesses, homes of Hindu community members, as well as leaders, workers, and supporters of the Awami League.
