Soon after Hasina had left the country, jubilant crowds waved flags and danced in front of cameras. Videos showing tens of thousands of people surrounding government offices and residences in the capital Dhaka started coming up on social media. People could be seen entering the official residence of ex-PM Hasina and stealing things from her house, which included fishes, utensils, clothes, etc. However, the celebratory protests also took a turn for the worst as videos of people vandalising an imposing statue of Hasina’s father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka, attacking the head with an axe also emerged. In the days following the ouster of Hasina, multiple incidents of attacks on the Hindu minorities had also surfaced.

The complainant had raised the present complaint with the broadcaster as while it is understandable that the unpredictable situation prevailing in Bangladesh as well as the history of violence against minorities in the country would lead to people being apprehensive regarding the safety of Hindus and Christians, a false sense of panic was being created by certain people in India through propaganda that was contributing to the chaos. It is essential to highlight that even though the theme of the ‘Coffee Par Kurukshetra’ show on IndiaTV was to discuss the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh, the discussion kept diverting to the Muslims of India wanting to eradicate the Hindus in India so that they can convert India into an Islamic nation. In short, the discussion which could have been regarding ensuring protection of minorities in the neighbouring countries as well as in India was manipulated into spreading fear and causing alarm against the Muslim takeover of India.

The said “charcha”, of which Pradeep Singh, Supreme Court lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay and Shantanu Gupta were a part of, misused the activities taking place in Bangladesh to cause unrest in India and to build a narrative of an impending Muslim takeover of India. The host of the show Saurabh Sharma had repeatedly used the word “Jihadi” to denote the Bangladeshi Muslims, and encouraged the conspiracy theories of Muslims changing the demography of India to take over the country and make it an Islamic nation. Every opportunity was taken up by each of the speakers and the host to encourage misconceptions against Muslims, by speaking about the alleged agenda of “Ghazwa-E-Hind”, “Jihad”, “Madrasa”, “Shaheen Bagh”, and “Waqf Board”.

The complainant stated “It was their (the panel) case that the Muslims of India want to become the majority population of India through “forced religious conversions, population increase and illegal migration” to ensure that India goes through a similar situation as Bangladesh. It is ironic that such conversations took place in a show that was discussing the targeting of minorities in another country while indulging in peddling anti-Muslim sentiments in India.”

Additionally, the complaint highlights that not only had the speakers and the host selectively manipulated the crucial issue of Hindus and Christians being attacked in Bangladesh, they have also brushed off all the attempts made by Muslims of Bangladesh to come out in protection of the Hindu community.

The complaint states “IndiaTV did this, while wilfully choosing to ignore stellar examples of –in that critical period between August 5/6 and 9 when the new government took over—ordinary and organised Muslims stepping up to provide protection to isolated and insecure Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. It would have been especially apt and responsible for a television anchor running a show with such a wide reach to have done so, given the volatility of social relations across borders and within and between our communities in India –and given the fact that this reality is in no way alleviated by politicians who use such opportunities to stoke the fires of ill-will, for a television channel like IndiaTV to have portrayed this reality as well.”

Based on the extracts of the statements made by the speakers, the complaint states that the show appeared more like a one-sided show promoting the host’s take on the Bangladesh issue and agenda of the Indian Muslims to take over India and make it an Islamic nation or a religious/sectarian debate rather than a news room debate. Accordingly, it is the complaint’s case that the broadcasters violate the guidelines issued by the News Broadcasting Digital and Standards Authority (NBDSA) but also stands in violation of our constitutional principles.

The complete complaint can be read below:

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Bangladesh: Why Indian Muslims’ voice against anti-Hindu violence matters

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Chaos in Bangladesh provides opportunity to right-wing social media to spread misinformation regarding Hindus, temples being attacked in the country

The post CJP condemns IndiaTV for spreading communal misinformation through news segment on Bangladesh crisis, sends complaint appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This year in March, while this writer was serving as a short-term resident scholar in New York, an MA Class student of Islamic studies at New York University (NYU), posted an online request for “prayers for Bangladesh”. The NYU student wrote:

“We request prayers for the easing of hardships faced by Bangladeshi students. At Dhaka University, a long-standing tradition among Muslim boys to break their fast (iftaar) in the halls were physically assaulted because they were consuming beef as part of their meal. One student even sustained injuries and began bleeding due to the violence inflicted upon him”. This set me thinking and pondering about what was going to happen in Bangladesh. Far from my country, I was doing a prognosis: what in the near future would be the fate of the nation I have always known as “the most moderate Muslim polity” in the Indian neighbourhood. In light of the violent incidents in March, the student fraternity in Bangladesh backed by an alleged support from some foreign forces (read American) student unions were getting more and more mobilised. This gave them an enabling environment to create an uproar in their country which has now resulted into the regime change. This is precisely what was behind the change of guard in Bangladesh on the 5th August of 2024.

Now when Bangladesh has accepted the regime change after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned following a mass rebellion that killed nearly 300 people, my bewilderment, which worries me more than before, is: what if the crisis would spill over to India? Amid the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, be it politically or religiously motivated, the change of guard in bleeding Bangladesh could be bad news for Indian Muslims too.

This change comes as very difficult to many moderate and mainstream Indian Muslims who adhere to the religiously pluralist, peaceful and culture-friendly Islam. The political unrest and communal violence and radical Islamist rise among the Bangladesh people is a serious threat to the Indian Hindu-Muslims’ historically healthy relations back home.

Therefore, most significantly, speaking up for the victims of violence and fostering peace and tranquillity amidst the crisis and multifaceted challenges in Bangladesh is more sagacious and essential on part of us Muslims. It will consequently help mitigate the continuing or potential communal tensions in the South Asian region.

In an unequivocal, strong press statement, IMSD has condemned the attacks on the life and property of Bangladeshi Hindus. The Daily Star published from Dacca, and other newspapers reported that on the day the students’ movement declared “independence” from the Awami League’s authoritarian regime, at least 142 people were killed in attacks and clashes around the country, with hundreds injured. Hindu houses and businesses were looted and torched in at least 27 districts. “In the anarchic situation that prevails in the country, fearing for their lives, a large number of Hindus living close to the border have been attempting to cross over to India leaving behind their homes, businesses and motherland”, the IMSD said.

The strongly-worded statement supported and endorsed by over 50 Indian Muslim intellectuals further reads: “The attack on temples, Hindu homes and businesses, and the targeting of Rahul Ananda’s secular musical space is clear indication that some fanatical Islamist groups — there is no dearth of them in Bangladesh — are pursuing their own intolerant agenda”.

Most significantly, the statement in its conclusion exhorts and urges the majority of Muslims in India and Bangladesh not to be mute and silent spectators. It rather awakens them and says: “Bangladesh politics must not be allowed to degenerate into majoritarianism as India’s has. Communalism is a sub-continental malaise and must be fought across borders. We call upon Muslim organisations and individuals in India to strongly condemn the targeting of minorities in Bangladesh.”

Not that no Islamic organisation or conventional Muslim outfit in India or Bangladesh is speaking out against the lynch mobs, arsonists looters and fanatics. We have heard and seen how a human chain was built by some Madrasa students to protect Hindu places of worship in Bangladesh. Even some of the Islamist preachers who otherwise played a communal and sometimes viciously divisive role in the past have showed a totally different face of theirs standing up for the Hindu victims of violence.

Most strikingly, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh (Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) and even Jama’at-e-Islami Hind (JeI) in India have condemned the attacks on Hindus. The JeI’s wing in Delhi-NCR (Faridabad) issued a press release in Urdu newspapers in which Maulana Jamaluddin of JeI has been quoted as saying: “Targeting any community or religious group is condemnable; we must condemn it unequivocally or this disquiet will spread.…We have urged all leaders of the community to come together to address this issue and promote a harmonious culture of understanding”.

It would not have been surprising if these words were to come from the Sufi Sunni ulema and clerics who repeatedly issued clichés like these. Astonishingly, even the Salafis and Ahl-e-Hadith as well as the Jama’at-e Islami, Hind have been known for non-tolerant attitudes towards non-Muslims and their places of worship have condemned the anti-Hindu attacks. More surprisingly, they came out to condemn these acts of violence targeting the minorities in Bangladesh with several verses from the Qur’an, as well as Ahadith and Asaar-e-Sahaba (sayings and actions attributed to the Prophet’s companions).

For instance, Assam’s well-known Deobandi scholar, Maulana Nurul Amin Qasmi who is famous for his distinct da’awah (preaching) style, went as far as to say: “We cannot comment on the internal issue of the neighbouring country. But as an Indian Muslim, I urge the Bangladeshis not to target the minorities in their country. Whether they are Hindus, Christians or Buddhists, any form of attack on innocent minority communities goes against the teaching of Islam and traditions of the holy Prophet (pbuh). Maulana Qasmi has extensively quoted from the Qur’an and Hadith to substantiate the point.

Syed Muhammad Ashraf Kichauchwi, President of All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board and chairman of World Sufi Forum, who has a huge following in Bangladeshi Sufi-Sunni pockets, especially in Chittagong, remarkably told this writer:

“The extremist fundamentalists who were in jails in Bangladesh and were banned from preaching also came out on the streets and they were doing their job under the cover of protesters, which emerged as a grave threat to the peace of the entire region. The basic idea of ​​Bangladesh was about tolerating everyone with an all-embracing faith based on love and peace, but now people with an ideology of deep-seated hatred are active. They are taking advantage of the situation to further their nefarious ends.”

He continued: In such a situation, people with the philosophy of love and acceptance should be more cautious now and should maximise their efforts to restore peace. We cannot be among those who silently watch the crisis as onlookers. He appealed to the people of Bangladesh not to give a new impetus to the ongoing riots and work for the restoration of peace on the ground. He also asked the people in India active on social media to act with restraint.

There is an urgent note of caution here. People spreading the agenda of communal hatred in our country also try to take advantage of bleeding Bangladesh to further spoil the sensitive environment and communal atmosphere in India. The way videos and pictures coming from Bangladesh are floating on the internet and the kind of provocation they are creating, pose serious threat to peace and harmony. The Indian government should put every possible check on this. It will have to think deeply and devise a decisive policy for the mitigation of the communal clash and tensions snowballing from the neighbouring country. The state agencies will have to keep an eye so that the fundamentalist ideology does not get nourished and nurtured in this backdrop. Otherwise it will be fatal for both: the country as well as the community.

Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is Sufi Mystic Indo-Islamic Scholar & Author based in Delhi. He can be reached at grdehlavi@gmail.com 

The post Bangladesh: Why Indian Muslims’ voice against anti-Hindu violence matters appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Reports in the last few days in the The Daily Star, The Daily Tribune and others published from Dacca, record that at least 142 people were killed in attacks and clashes around the country, with hundreds injured, and Hindu houses and businesses were looted and torched in at least 27 districts, on the day the students’ movement declared “independence” from the Awami League’s authoritarian regime.

In the anarchic situation that prevails in the country, fearing for their lives, a large number of Hindus living close to the border have been attempting to cross over to India leaving behind their homes, businesses and motherland.

The once iconic cultural hub of Rahul Ananda has been vandalised, 3,000 rare musical instruments burnt down. The attack on temples, Hindu homes and businesses the targeting of Rahul Ananda’s secular musical space is clear indication that some fanatical Islamist groups – there is no dearth of them in Bangladesh — are pursuing their own intolerant agenda.

In the midst of the continuing mayhem, there are reassuring reports that student leaders have directed their supporters to guard the places of worship of fellow countrymen from the Hindu and Christian communities. Several video clips are circulating in the social media showing students and civilians including madrasa students, setting up committees to protect temples, churches or houses of minorities.

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI), the largest Islamist party in the country, has condemned the attacks on Hindus, saying there is no question of majority or minority and that all citizens have equal rights.

IMSD applauds all those organisations and individuals in Bangladesh who are speaking out against the lynch mobs, arsonists looters and fanatics, in particular those who have thrown civilian security rings around their fellow countrymen from the minority communities. We welcome the statement now even as we note that their own questionable role in the past speaks otherwise.

But the main burden of responsibility lies with the interim government to restore the rule of law, ensure peace, comfort the Hindu victims of the wanton violence, reassure them that they will be fully compensated for the destruction of their temples, homes and businesses and the perpetrators of violence will be brought to justice.

In his first address to the nation, the Noble laureate Mohammad Yunus, now the chief advisor to the new interim government, has warned those who spread the poison of anarchy would face the full power of law enforcement agencies, along with the victorious students and the people, who will make them fail.  “As the first duty of the government, we will suppress these conspirators with a heavy hand,” he has promised. The interim government must now walk the talk.

Signatories:

1. J. Jawad, Advocate, Chennai
2. Aftab Khan, Journalist, Nasik
3. Akbar Shaikh, IMSD, Solapur
4. Ahmad Rashid Sherwani, Educationist, Hyderabad
5. Amir Rizvi, IMSD, Designer, Mumbai
6. Anand Patwardhan, Documentary films maker, Mumbai
7. Anjum Rajabali, Film Writer, Mumbai
8. Anwar Hussain, Corporate Executive, Mumbai
9. Arif Kapadia, IMSD, Business, Activist, Mumbra, Thane
10. Arshad Alam, IMSD, Columnist, New Age Islam, Delhi
11. Ashhar Khan, Jaunpur
12. Askari Zaidi, IMSD, Senior Journalist, Delhi
13. Bilal Khan, IMSD, Activist, Mumbai
14. Dipak Malik, Varanasi
15. Feroze Mithiborwala, IMSD, Co-convener, Bharat Bachao Andolan, Mumbai
16. Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, Sufi Mystic Indo-Islamic Scholar & Author, Delhi
17. Hasan Ibrahim Pasha, Fiction writer, Allahabad
18. Hasina Khan, Bebaak Collective, Mumbai
19. Irfan Engineer, IMSD Co-convener, CSSS, Mumbai
20. Javed Akhtar, former MP, poet, lyricist, Mumbai
21. Javed Anand, IMSD Convener, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai
22. Javed Siddiqi, IMSD, writer, author, Mumbai
23. Kasim Sait, Businessman, Philanthropist, Chennai
24. Khadijah Farouqui, IMSD, Activist, Delhi
25. Mansoor Sardar, IMSD, Bhiwandi
26. Masooma Ranalvi, IMSD, We Speak Out, Delhi
27. Mohammed Imran, PIO, USA
28. Muniza Khan, IMSD, CJP, Varanasi
29. Najid Hussain, PIO, USA
30. Nasreen Contractor, Co-convenor, IMSD, Mumbai
31. Nasreen Fazelbhoy, IMSD, Mumbai
32. Neelima Sharma, Theatre, Social activist, Delhi
33. Qaisar Sultana, Home maker, Allahabad ()
34. Qamarjahan, Lucknow
35. Qutub Jahan, IMSD, NEEDA, Mumbai
36. (Dr) Ram Puniyani, IMSD, Author, Activist, Mumbai
37. Rashida Tapadar, Academic, Activist, Nagaland
38. Riyaz Shaikh, Mumbai
39. Sabah Khan, Parcham, Mumbai.
40. Salim Saboowala, Social activist, Mumbai
41. Shabana Azmi, Actor, Former MP, Mumbai
42. Shafaat Khan, IMSD, Writer, Mumbai
43. Shalini Dhawan, Designer, Mumbai
44. Shama Bano, Social activist Varanasi
45. Shamsul Islam, Author, Delhi
46. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, IMSD, TV Commentator, Delhi
47. Sultan Shahin, Editor-in chief and publisher, New Age Islam, Delhi
48. Teesta Setalvad, IMSD, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai
49. Vibhuti Narain Rai, IPS (retired), author, commentator, Noida
50. Yash Paranjpe, Activist, Mumbai
51. Zaheer Ahmed Sayeed, Neurologist, Chennai
52. Zeenat Shaukat Ali, IMSD, Wisdom Foundation, Mumbai

The post Indian Muslims strongly condemn attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

With the ouster of Hasina, news of protesters taking over the residence of ex-PM emerged, with videos of the protestors taking away stuff from Hasina’s official residence. Even though a statement was made by Army chief Waker uz Zaman, stating that law-and-order will be maintained in the country and action will be taken against offenders, situations soon turned volatile. Adding fuel to the fire were unsubstantiated reports of minority Hindus in Bangladesh being attacked by the majority population of Bangladesh. Within hours of the reports of Hasina leaving the country, false narratives of Bangladeshi Hindus facing attacks, their houses being demolished and Hindu temples being vandalised emerged on social media.

It is crucial to highlight here that the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which had led the protest demanding the resignation of Hasina, had also appealed to protect Hindu population in Bangladesh. On August 8, 2024, Dr Mohammed Yunus, after taking charge of the interim government in Bangladesh delivered his first address and said “if you trust me to run your country, the first thing you need to do is to stop attacking the people and the minorities around you. If you don’t, I have no use and it’s better I leave”.

As pictures unrelated to Bangladesh and old videos started surfacing and circulating on social media, many took to busting these false exaggerated claims being made with the objective of given a communal colour to the situation of Bangladesh and create an unrest in India between the Hindu and Muslim community. To counter the hysteria being spread by the right-wing groups on social media, pictures of Muslims in Bangladesh standing vigil in front of Hindu temples also emerged on social media. (A detailed report can be viewed here.) Adding to this chaos of false news and misinformation being spread stands Republic TV, which has been creating confusion and mixing information and misinformation. In the past as well, Republic TV has been criticised, even by the Courts, for their “derogatory” manner of reporting on news. In January 2021, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni of the Bombay High Court had held that the media coverage by Republic TV and Times Now against Mumbai police in the case pertaining to death of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput to be prima facie contemptuous

Reports on the actual attacks on minorities in Bangladesh till now:

However, it is pertinent to highlight that The Daily Star has reported a few attacks on minorities till now. As per the report of the The Daily Star, in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, the home of band Joler Gaan’s frontman Rahul Ananda was set on fire and burnt to the ground on Monday.

“As soon as they broke down the gate, they started ravaging the house, taking whatever they could find for themselves. They took everything — from furniture and mirrors to valuables. After that, they torched the whole house along with Rahul da’s musical instruments,” a close family source of Rahul had reportedly told The Daily Star. Notably, Rahul and his family had managed to flee to safety and were not attacked. The report also provided that on the same day, the Dhanuka Manasa Bari temple in Shariatpur was ransacked by an angry mob. it has been reported that the mob crushed the idols of Radha-Krishna and razed the temple to the ground. They also damaged all 16 CCTV cameras installed inside the temple premises.

According to The Dhaka Tribune, the warehouse of Babul Saha, chairman of Narikelbaria in Bhagarpara, Jessore, was attacked and looted, along with 22 shops belonging to the local Hindu community. Several homes were also vandalized and plundered during the incident, which occurred on Monday night. The area is home to at least 200 Hindu families, and locals reported that residents are now guarding their homes at night. During a visit on Wednesday, it was observed that Gobinda Saha, a local resident, was cleaning up broken window panes in front of his house, which had been damaged during the attack. He recounted that around 20-25 assailants, armed with machetes and sticks, had stormed their homes around 9:30 p.m. on Monday.

Details of the attacks can be read here.

How Republic TV reported attacks on minorities in Bangladesh:

Before beginning with this, it is essential to note that at least two of the videos shared by Republic TV, namely “Bangladesh Protest: Banaras Hindu University में पढ़ रहे छात्रों ने बताई खौफनाक” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcEu3gw83h4 ) and “बांग्लादेश में हिंसा की भेंट चढ़े हिंदू मंदिर हुई तोड़फोड़ | Bangladesh Hindu Mandir Attack” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiXdoawPofY ) have been made private. The said video had some nasty unsubstantiated comments.

In another video, namely “Bangladesh में कट्टरपंथियों का निशाना बने हिंदू! | R Bharat Bangladesh में कट्टरपंथियों का निशाना बने हिंदू! | R Bharat”, Republic Bharat has made big claims about how the whole Hindu population in Bangladesh is at the target of the public at large in the country. However, their report on the properties of Hindus being destroyed is intertwined with false news.

One of the clippings from the report of the Hindu properties being burnt showed the following temple being burnt by mobs.

It is essential to note that Mohammad Zubair, a fact checker and the co-founder of AltNews, had highlighted that the visual that are being passed as the burning of a Hindu temple is, in fact, a restaurant being burnt by the protestors in Bangladesh. While the reporter herself stated that there is an increasing anger in the Hindus of India in regards to the targeting of Hindus of Bangladesh, Republic TV themselves went on to spread fake and unverified news. To do so after knowing that the activities of the neighbouring will have on the public order and harmony of India is reckless to say the least. In addition to spreading misinformation and panic in regards to the situation in Bangladesh, the report used derogatory words such a “jihadi” for the Muslims of Bangladesh multiple times throughout the video. Instigating tickers containing the word ‘Jihadi’ were also a part of the programme.

It is essential to note that the report even claimed that the Muslims in Bangladesh were trying to burn Hindus alive there. While the on-ground situation of Bangladesh remains unclear, creating panic by making exaggerated speeches and creating chaos is violative of the duties that media and digital news is supposed to abide by. A few examples of instigating tickers is below:

The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmjbQMzUedI

In the other programme, which was titled “Bangladesh में लोगों पर आफत, मंदिरों पर हमला, अस्तित्व पर संकट! | R Bharat” also had a similar coverage, wherein derogatory words such as ‘Jihadi’ were used repeatedly.

A few examples of instigating tickers are as follows:

The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvW0pF9EDE

Guidelines of the court on media coverage and the role and conduct of the anchors:

The Bombay High Court had, in the case of Nilesh Navalakha and ors vs Union of India and ors. [PIL (ST) No. 92252 of 2020], had touched upon the issue of media trials being run by certain TV channels in the name of “investigative journalism” and the role that electronic media played in derogation of characters of those being investigated by police and courts in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. The High Court bench led by the then Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and comprising of Justice Girish Kulkarni had admonished media houses of indulging in such a media trial while reiterating the role of statutory authorities under the Cable Television Networks Act and directed them to take necessary action in complaints received by them.

The 251-page judgment of the Bombay High Court, a constitutional court, is now the most recent jurisprudential marker on established standards for media publications, electronic media and networks when they report ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. While laying down several norms specifying the conduct that needs to be followed by anchors during debates and programmes, the Court had stated that the right to freedom of speech and expression like all other rights in the Constitution is also not absolute; it is subject to imposition of reasonable restrictions. The court also emphasised upon the role that media plays in moulding the opinion of the common person in India, making it all the more essential for them to abide by the rules of responsibility, neutrality and impartiality in their reporting.

The details on the judgment can be read here.

Related:

Lessons from a ‘Democratic Revolt’: Prevent the slide into majoritarianism

Redefining Indian Tradition Minus Christianity & Islam is Intellectual Dishonesty

Bangladesh Situation Tumultuous, But Does Not Signify Islamic Extremist Dominance

Chaos in Bangladesh provides opportunity to right-wing social media to spread misinformation regarding Hindus, temples being attacked in the country

The post Does turmoil in Bangladesh warrant using derogatory language against Muslims by anchors of Republic TV? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

For the vibrant Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and Mohammad Yunus who is slated to take over the reigns of power in an unusual move, the challenge is both stark and immediate.

Reports from the Daily Star, Dhaka Tribune and even the Times of India have clearly detailed these attacks, eschewing any attempts at denial, even as they were condemned by rights activists within Bangladesh.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, in Jessore, the warehouse of Babul Saha, chairman of Bhagarpara’s Narikelbaria, was attacked and looted, while 22 shops of the Hindu community there were looted, and several houses were vandalised and plundered. The vandalism and attack took place on Monday night it was reported. At least 200 Hindu families live in the area, locals said. People from every house are now guarding the area at night. The newspaper also reported that during a visit on Wednesday, it was seen that Gobinda Saha, a resident of the area, was cleaning the broken window panes in front of his house, which were vandalized on Monday night. He told the newspaper that around 20-25 miscreants attacked their houses with machetes and sticks around 9:30pm on Monday.

“All of us in the family gathered inside the house and watched everything through the window. Around 10 people tried to break the main gate of my house. Later, they smashed the window glass with a brick,” he narrated. Biplab Kundu, a tenant of Shankar Kumar Mallick’s house, said: “After the attack on houses, we are keeping watch at night. Both men and women are having sleepless nights in fear.”

Govinda Saha said: “On information, three army patrol vehicles visited the spot. Activists of BNP and Jamaat had come to assure us of their support at night. Still, we cannot feel safe.” Additionally, the house of one Lakshmi Rani was also attacked and ornaments were looted on Monday night.

Hindus constitute about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people and have historically largely supported Hasina’s Awami League. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council leader Kajol Debnath said the attacks that targeted 200 to 300 houses and businesses and 15-20 temples left around 40 Hindus injured. “The situation is grave. We urge the army to ensure security for the minorities and bring the perpetrators of the attacks to book immediately,” Unity Council’s general secretary Rana Dasgupta is reported by The Times of India to have said.

For me, both journalist and rights activist, as heart-breaking as these accounts was the once iconic cultural hub of Rahul Ananda being vandalised and 3,000 rare musical instruments burnt down. The Daily Star reported the incident on August 6:

1 of 3

“Rahul Da and his family are shaken and take shelter to a secret place known to only a few. We could not contact him yet. It was not even his house, it was a rental space he was living in for decades,” said Saiful Islam Jarnal, one of Joler Gaan’s founding members,” reported The Daily Star. As soon as they had broken the gate, they started ravaging the house taking whatever they could find for themselves. They took everything from furniture, mirrors to valuables. After that, they torched the whole house along with Rahul da’s musical instruments,” said another close family source, to The Daily Star. In response, the Joler Gaan posted a song from their official page with a caption, “The house on Dhanmondi 32, once a sanctuary for Rahul Ananda and the Joler Gaan ensemble, was not just a residence but a creative hub where countless songs and instruments were crafted. Known for its open-door policy, the house welcomed all, where Rahul meticulously designed instruments that captured the unique sound of Bangladesh.

“However, this haven was tragically reduced to ashes, taking with it all of the band’s musical instruments, archives, and the family’s belongings. While the residents escaped safely, the loss extends beyond physical possessions, reflecting a deeper lament over the destruction of dreams and creative spirit. Despite the devastation, the message of resilience and the hope for a compassionate future remains, urging people to preserve dreams and not let anger overshadow love and understanding,” the post concluded.

What does this targeted, hopefully limited violence mean for Bangladesh, for the Indian sub-continent and South Asia? For those of us who have battled the corrosive intoxication of hate, from the time when Hindu temples were desecrated in that country –Bangladesh–after the shameful demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, close to 35 years ago, it seems like the beginning of a nightmare that refuses to end. A deadly spiral of tit-for-tat communal targeted violence that has once so bitterly torn us apart between 1946 and 1948. Reverberations and upheavals from that violent past tear us apart still be it in Ranchi, Ahmedabad (1969) Bombay-Bhiwandi in the early 1970s, Nellie (1983), Delhi (1984) Maliana-Hashimpura (1987), Bhagalpur (1989), Bombay 1992-1993 and Gujarat 2002. Not to mention Muzzafarnagar (2013) and the sickening individual lynchings of individual Muslims in India over the past decade.

Already the shrill and sectarian voices from those that rule Delhi and Lucknow have been heard and will no doubt impact the lives of innocent victims from among Muslims in irrational acts of “revenge”. As if the imposed plight of religious minorities under the present Indian self-proclaimed majoritarian dispensation was not bad enough to begin with.

What the young leadership in Bangladesh has brought in response this time, however has been a swift and reassuring response. “A special announcement resonated from a loudspeaker inside a mosque in Bangladesh, issued by the ‘Students Against Discrimination’ group. In a call for peace during the country’s turbulent period, the announcement urged all citizens to maintain communal harmony and protect Hindu minorities. The message emphasised the collective responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of the minority community from potential threats posed by miscreants or evil forces. The group implored everyone to remain vigilant and uphold the values of unity and protection, highlighting the importance of solidarity in these challenging times.

On Facebook and X photos annotated with English translations in the photo text, so that non-Bengali friends also can understand and acknowledge the efforts show visuals of Muslims protecting Hindu Buddhist and Christians spaces and places of worship. So, while attacks on minorities indeed took place in many areas in the country, that is precisely why the students, the people of Bangladesh spontaneously in Chittagong and elsewhere, came forward for protection, to fight the bigots of their country. India and Indians needs to condemn the violence against Hindus in our neighbouring country but also fight the bigots within ours and their poisonous narratives, using these pictures. Let us all learn how to behave responsibly as majority population in a turbulent time like this.

It has been these abiding acts and images that have offered hope even as the new dispensation yet to be seen in Dacca faces a serious test. For us in India, the challenge is to first unequivocally condemn any signs of targeted violence in Bangladesh while supporting a genuinely democratic upsurge. This is both complicated yet imperative.

Are there enough of us in India and Bangladesh to do both? Both passionately and unequivocally?

Related:

Chaos in Bangladesh provides opportunity to right-wing social media to spread misinformation regarding Hindus, temples being attacked in the country

The post Lessons from a ‘Democratic Revolt’: Prevent the slide into majoritarianism appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Courtesy: The Aidem

The post Bangladesh Situation Tumultuous, But Does Not Signify Islamic Extremist Dominance appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It is to be noted that Hasina’s decision was prompted by the weeks-long protest against 30% reservations to select groups in government jobs and educational institutions. After this decision for reservation was made public, protestors took to the streets to question the quota of reservation being granted to the third generation of freedom fighters, and demanding a total merit-based recruitment. While the protests had begun peacefully in June against the quota system, the student-led movement later turned into a people’s movement. This escalated to a protest to oust Sheikh Hasina, who won for the fourth time in the January elections. The protests against the dictatorial government saw violence as brute force was used by the police against protestors, leading to the deaths of dozens of people. Over 100 people died over the weekend prior to the resignation of ex-PM Hasina. The weekend also saw the Bangladesh government ordering a complete internet shutdown as protestors asked the general public to join a “Long March to Dhaka”. A nationwide curfew had also been imposed indefinitely. However, around 1:15 pm on Monday, a government agency gave a verbal order to start broadband internet.

Soon after Hasina left the country, jubilant crowds waved flags and danced in front of cameras. Videos showing tens of thousands of people surrounding government offices and residences in the capital Dhaka started coming up on social media. People could be seen entering the official residence of ex-PM Hasina and stealing things from her house, which included fishes, utensils, clothes, etc. However, the celebratory protests also took a turn for the worst as videos of people vandalising an imposing statue of Hasina’s father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka, attacking the head with an axe also emerged.

Chaos in the neighbouring Bangladesh had a ripple effect in India as well. As more and more social media images and videos of the protest started coming out, certain social media accounts, known for making inflammatory comments and spreading false claims, started spreading misinformation regarding the Bangladeshi Hindus being attacked by the Muslims in Bangladesh. Claims of the minority population of Hindus being physically attacked and facing sexual violence went viral, along with allegation of temples and Hindu structures being burnt by mobs. However, most of these claims were false and were being spread by fake-news peddlers to create disharmony in India and showcase that the Bangladeshi Hindus were being targeted by the Muslims. Twisting the events into Hindu-Muslim communal agenda has the potential of creating a false narrative, leading to a law-and-order situation between the Hindu and Muslim population in India.

While it is understandable that the unpredictable situation prevailing in Bangladesh as well as the history of violence against minorities in the country would lead to people being apprehensive regarding the safety of Hindus and Christians, the false sense of panic that is being created through propaganda is only contributing to the chaos. However, to counter the misinformation being aired by these certain right-wing social media accounts with the aim of creating panic, a different section also took up the task of correcting ad clarifying these narratives. Mohammed Zubair, a fact-checker with Alt News, has been continuously analysing these false posts and fact-checking these posts.

False narratives and myth busting:

It is essential to note that since yesterday evening, the hashtag of #AllEyesOnBangladeshiHindus had been trending on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). Even political leaders fanned these misleading narratives and delivered inciteful and violent hate speeches. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane, who is a habitual hate offender and spreads his divisive ideology, took up this chance to encourage violence. Taking to X, Rane wrote “If Hindus are targeted and killed in Bangladesh, why should we allow even one Bangladeshi to breathe here. Hum bhi chun chun ke marenge.” (We will also kill each of them selectively)”

https://x.com/NiteshNRane/status/1820527693206892574?t=Pq8anhxMzlofvYKKgsyoCQ&s=08

A series of misleading posts were also put out by the social media account of “Mr. Sinha” through which he had posted unverified videos to directly inflame the situation through fake news, exaggerations, and claims of an imminent genocide on the back of the Hindus in Bangladesh.

IsIamists are on rampage in #Bangladesh, they’re attacking Hindu houses and abducting Hindu girls…pic.twitter.com/5TfTFFuhus

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) August 5, 2024

Don’t let ISIS toilet cleaners whitewash the Hindu genocide in #Bangladesh.
Be careful (like no fake thing goes by mistake) while sharing news related to Bangladesh, but share all the real events as much as you can…

The world needs to see it…!!

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) August 6, 2024

Multiple such posts were then fact-checked by Zubair. In one such post, Zubair provided how an old video of a sexual assault case in Bengaluru city involving Bangladeshis was now being shared with a communal claim that Hindu girls are being raped in Bangladesh.

Beware of the Fake News factory run by Right Wing accounts in India. An Old video of sexual assault case in Bengaluru, India involving Bangladeshis is now shared with a communal claim that Hindu girls are being raped in Bangladesh. Such claims are amplified by like @jsaideepak… https://t.co/vizkpRjlKd pic.twitter.com/yCYHGaqE3n

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 6, 2024

Right wing propaganda account @SonOfBharat7 is sharing an old and unrelated Rape video claiming it to be recent incident from Bangladesh. This is 2021 Bengaluru incident, in which a Bangladeshi woman was gang-raped. Please reported this tweet for sharing a rape video.
C’C… pic.twitter.com/byMhM5udXZ

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 6, 2024

Zubair also fact-checked the claims made by other right-wing groups that had provided that a temple had been set of fire by a mob in Bangladesh. Correcting the same, Zubair stated that only a shop in front of the temple in Moulvibazar Kali Bari was set on fire and the temple had remained safe.

Fake News by RW Propaganda accounts like @SaffronSunanda.
The Temple wasn’t burnt. A fire was set to a shop in front of the Temple.

2. Fire in a shop near the Temple.
3 & 4. The person Sonjoy Deb present there claims, Temple is safe.
Location : Moulvibazar Kali Bari.

C’C… https://t.co/TZXZ3DrqBM pic.twitter.com/sQhxcV2PQl

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 5, 2024

Another lie was making rounds on social media, wherein it had been stated that the house of a Bangladeshi Hindu cricketer Liton Das had been set on fire. However, Zubair had clairifed that the house of Mashrafe Mortaza was the one that was set on fire and the news about Das’s house was being wrongly shared to give a communal colour to the incidents.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s house on fire. The image of his house burning is shared as Liton Das’s house by right wing accounts in India. #BangladeshBleeding pic.twitter.com/wb7UOel4ud

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 5, 2024

Other ‘X’ users also fact-checked posts that were spreading misinformation.

FAKE!
Bangladesh Unrest: 2021 Bengaluru Gangrape Video Shared With Communal Claim | BOOM (https://t.co/BvO0jkGAqE) https://t.co/wnpgZ1qsv7

— Swasti (@SwastiChatterje) August 6, 2024

Fake Alert: There were no incidents of rape in Rangpur, and no women were burnt alive. https://t.co/OHv6s9Uvms

— Shohanur Rahman (@Sohan_RSB) August 6, 2024

That’s a fake propaganda Telegram group, Haradhon was not killed for his religion. Yesterday, more than 10 AL men were killed. Haradhon is one of the 2 Hindus, & for that, you are spreading propaganda. What about the Muslims who were killed at the same place?

Stop communalizing pic.twitter.com/FAHgC8c4og

— Shohanur Rahman (@Sohan_RSB) August 5, 2024

Calls for maintaining harmony and protecting minority Hindus reverberate Bangladesh:

Videos showing Muslims in Bangladesh raising calls for protecting the minorities in the country also emerged on social media. In a video shared by Zubair, a Muslim man can be seen and heard making announcement to maintain communal harmony on a loudspeaker from inside the Mosque in Bangladesh. The man can be heard saying “Dear Citizens, we ‘Students Against Discrimination’ are requesting you, during this period of unrest in the country, we all must maintain communal harmony. We should protect Hindu minorities. Protect their lives and their wealth from miscreants/evil forces. It is your responsibility, our responsibility, and everyone’s responsibility. Let’s all be vigilant.”

A Special Announcement on a loudspeaker from inside the Mosque in Bangladesh.

“Dear Citizens,
We ‘Students Against Discrimination’ are requesting you, during this period of unrest in the country, We all must maintain communal harmony. We should protect Hindu minorities.… https://t.co/lPYvfwRI7p pic.twitter.com/lcXTGzZETS

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 5, 2024

Zubair also shared pictures of the Muslim community members standing vigil outside Hindu temples to ensure that no miscreant takes advantage of the situation and creates communal disharmony.

Students safeguarding the Dhakeshwari Temple late at night #ProtectMinorities pic.twitter.com/QWlsMoZaqR

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 5, 2024

A Special Announcement on a loudspeaker from inside the Mosque in Bangladesh.

“Dear Citizens,
We ‘Students Against Discrimination’ are requesting you, during this period of unrest in the country, We all must maintain communal harmony. We should protect Hindu minorities.… pic.twitter.com/AszMMk2gyN

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 5, 2024

Some people are spreading rumors that we Bangladeshi are against minorities. Here is ” A Thread” that how the students and common people are saving the temple and started their duty from tonight. pic.twitter.com/jnSsZuBGdp

— 𝑯𝒊𝒎𝒊 (@feelslikehimi) August 5, 2024

#HindusAreSafeInBangladesh

1. Students protecting the Dhakeshwari Hindu Temple

2. Students of Islami Chhatra Shibir guarding a Hindu temple in Chakaria Upazila

3 & 4: Students guarding other Hindu temples#Bangladesh #SheikhHasina #Bangladeshstudentprotest #HindusUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/FNDMvdTiox

— Muslim Spaces (@MuslimSpaces) August 6, 2024

The hashtag #HindusAreSafeInBangladesh has also been trending on ‘X’.

Related:

FIRs for hate speech registered against BJP MLAs Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain: Maharashtra Police to Bombay High Court

Violence Unleashed: Kanwariya Yatra 2024, police vehicle and shops vandalised

Will Bangladesh’s Politics Of Revenge End?

‘Counterproductive’: Attacking symbols of Bangladesh liberation, degrading its founding leaders

The post Chaos in Bangladesh provides opportunity to right-wing social media to spread misinformation regarding Hindus, temples being attacked in the country appeared first on SabrangIndia.

First and foremost, the new government has to provide protection to the cadres and the leaders of the party in power so far, as the Awami League’s sympathizers remain exposed to the wrath of two other political outfits, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the proscribed Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (JeI). Both these parties have suffered immensely in the last one and a half decades. Their leaders and cadres have ‘disappeared’, top leaders have been executed in ‘a show trial’ or forced to leave the country and elections have been rigged. Yet the history of ‘revenge politics’ has not helped Bangladesh.

While justice has to be delivered to the victims, new victims should not be created. There should be both justice and reconciliation, indicated Nelson Mandela, at the time of transfer power in South Africa. While celebrating the people’s uprising and victory, Bangladesh should remember Mandela’s speeches in 1994. However, alarmingly, violence is gaining momentum.

The residence of the country’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – a museum– was attacked; his statues were denigrated, while the households of the Awami League cadres and the minority Hindus were torched. The houses of the government officers who were considered close to the previously ruling dispensation were targeted. Such attacks should not continue as it did in 2001 when BNP-Jamat-led four-party alliance came to power and if it does then India needs to initiate a dialogue with the dispensation in power as both the Leaguers and the minorities will be largely dependent on Delhi.

In the process, Delhi needs to question its traditional foreign policy of aligning with one party or coalition and disengage with the rest. Though Delhi may have had a covert dialogue with the opposition, optics indicate that Delhi is not close to Bangladesh but rather to the Awami League. As a result, an overwhelming majority of Bangladesh is against India tonight. India’s powerful neighbour – China – never does that. For example, at this point, Beijing is talking to all sides in Myanmar. However, the students’ uprising has also indicated that a new Bangladesh is emerging. In this movement, religious and ethnic minorities have joined hands with the majority community. Placards have been displayed where it was written that ‘the army should be back to barracks both in the plains and the hills’. Hills signify the presence of the ethnic indigenous minorities, who have been facing army repression for decades.

The post Will Bangladesh’s Politics Of Revenge End? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The previously controversial reservation system was revoked by the government and later enforced by a High Court ruling, which was ultimately scaled back to a mere 5% by the Supreme Court.

I’ve often stated that while chaos may attract media attention and intrigue experts, it ultimately takes a toll on the nation, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of the consequences. The protests currently taking place are often romanticized on social media, but once mass gatherings occur, these movements can be commandeered for other agendas.

We have witnessed this in various instances, including the protests in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, the unrest in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and now in Bangladesh. The situation is far more complex than it appears.

Is the recent violence and looting in Bangladesh truly an organic student-led movement? This appears to be a coordinated effort, as evidenced by the Prime Minister being forced to flee in just 45 minutes. Instead of rejoicing, we see crowds vandalizing symbols of Bangladesh’s hard-won independence and attacking Hindu minorities and their temples — an unnecessary and troubling development.

It’s clear that Sheikh Hasina lost touch with the reality on the ground and became increasingly unpopular due to her economic policies and heavy-handed governance. This is a recurring issue in our part of the world: a powerful leader can become isolated and above the law, leading to external forces exploiting public dissatisfaction.

We cannot overlook the American approach to regime change — while they may not have succeeded in Russia, they’re striving hard elsewhere. Terms like “democracy,” “rule of law,” and “human rights” come into play.

The issue is not whether we should embrace these ideals but rather how we ensure a true democratic process, one that respects opposition and fosters economic improvement.

Bangladesh has enjoyed impressive economic growth, yet it has largely benefited industries, leaving the youth feeling increasingly suffocated by dwindling job opportunities. In this region, government jobs are highly coveted, and any attempt at implementing quotas or reservations will inevitably please some while alienating many.

In an era of social media, governments must tread carefully; while social media can be a powerful tool, it can also incite chaos when mainstream media is under the control of elites disconnected from the realities faced by the people. One cannot combat an ideological opponent solely with administrative power and policing.

When the public rises up, even law enforcement is likely to disengage, and we’ve seen this in Dhaka, where Sheikh Hasina’s official residence was attacked and looted in a matter of minutes. Is this the transformation we envision? Why was there such a lack of security?

Sheikh Hasina was fortunate to escape the crisis relatively unscathed, and she — or her advisors — should have anticipated the unfolding events. It is crucial for Bangladesh’s political leaders, military, and student community to prevent the current crisis from becoming a permanent rift.

Bangladesh is blessed with intellectuals, political leaders, and social activists dedicated to the country’s welfare. After battling oppression, now is the time to unite in restoring law and order. Honor the sacrifices of those who fought against tyranny and maintained their dignity in the face of adversity. While it is easy to criticize Sheikh Hasina as a despot, attacking symbols of your liberation movement or degrading the legacy of your founding leaders is counterproductive.

I sincerely hope the people of Bangladesh will come together to protect their nation and its rich heritage of peaceful coexistence, resisting the urge to let forces of intolerance and hatred exploit the current crisis. There is an opportunity to reclaim and collectively build your country, preserving its secular and pluralistic legacy.

May peace and stability be restored to Bangladesh, allowing it to thrive once more in tranquility, harmony, and economic prosperity.

Author is Human rights defender

Courtesy: CounterView

The post ‘Counterproductive’: Attacking symbols of Bangladesh liberation, degrading its founding leaders appeared first on SabrangIndia.