Dhanbad: Hundreds of protesters gathered at Randhir Verma Chowk in Dhanbad on Wednesday to demonstrate against the ongoing violence targeting Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. The rally, organized by various Hindu organizations, was a show of solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh, where reports of increasing attacks on religious minorities have raised serious concerns.
Despite Bangladesh having a constitution, parliament, and army, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus have reportedly been singled out and subjected to violence on the streets. Demonstrators at the Dhanbad protest carried saffron flags and raised slogans denouncing the brutalities taking place across the border, particularly after recent political turmoil in Bangladesh, including the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
There have been disturbing reports of Hindu temples being targeted and growing insecurity among minority communities in Bangladesh. The protests were further fueled by the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagran Manch, who was detained after organizing a rally in Chittagong in October to highlight the violence against Hindus. Das was charged with treason, sparking further outrage within the Hindu community.
The Dhanbad protest saw the participation of several local political leaders, including former BJP MP P.N. Singh, Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha, Jharia MLA Ragini Singh, Baghmara MLA Shatrughan Mahato, and BJP leaders Amresh Singh and Tara Devi. Protesters marched from Randhir Verma Chowk to the Dhanbad Collectorate, where they submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, urging the Indian government to take swift action to address the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
The memorandum calls for immediate intervention from the Indian government, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for stronger measures to protect minority communities and hold the Bangladeshi government accountable for the escalating violence. The protest reflects growing anger and concern among the Hindu community in India over the safety of their fellow Hindus across the border.