Dhaka: Bangladesh’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus visited the Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka on Tuesday, where he met with members of the Hindu community amidst a tense political climate. The visit was highly anticipated given the recent rise in attacks on the Hindu minority since the fall of the Hasina government. At least 205 incidents of violence have been reported across 52 districts, raising concerns about the safety and security of the Hindu community.
During his visit, Yunus urged the Hindu community to exercise patience before passing judgment on the newly formed interim government. “Rights are equal for everyone. We are all one people with one right. Do not make any distinctions among us,” Yunus emphasized. He further stressed that the primary goal of the interim government is to establish human rights and freedom of speech for all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations.
“In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings,” Yunus said, adding that the root of many problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements that need to be fixed.
Yunus was accompanied by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain during his visit. He met with representatives of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, and the temple management board.
In a gesture of solidarity, Yunus encouraged the Hindu community to see themselves as integral members of the nation. “You simply say that you are human, a citizen of Bangladesh, and this is your constitutional right that must be ensured. Just demand this, nothing more,” he urged.
