Bangladesh interim govt says working to resolve attacks on minorities
In its first official statement, the new interim government of Bangladesh on Sunday said that the attacks on religious minorities in some places had been noted with grave concern and to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks.
The Bangladeshi government plans to launch a hotline to protect religious minorities. Thousands of people participated in protests on Sunday calling for an end to violence against Hindu communities
The cabinet said it would “immediately sit with the representative bodies and other concerned groups to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks”.
The statement comes as some reports have emerged about Hindus being attacked after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Internet is also overwhelmed by misinformation campaigns by the Indian social media sharing fake news about the persecution of Hindus, the largest religious minority in Bangladesh.
Dhaka Tribune, a local newspaper, reported that on Saturday, two organizations in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, claimed that there had been 205 attacks on minorities in 52 districts after Sheikh Hasina's fall.
However, most reports indicate that the attack was on leaders of the Awami League and not targeted on religious lines. Meanwhile, the Indian government announced that it had formed a special committee to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, as well as Indian nationals residing there.
Rumor Scanner, an independent fack-check unit in Bangladesh, identified more than 40 instances of Bangladesh-related communal rumours spread by Indians. BBC Verify and Al Jazeera English also reported on a widespread misinformation campaign launched by Indian social media.
The report by Dhaka Tribune quoted Dr Sumon Rahman, head of the independent fact-checking initiative FactWatch, approved by the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), claimed some Hindu homes had indeed been attacked, but in almost all cases, these individuals were associated with the Awami League.
The statement from the interim government, also known as the Council of Advisers, listed numerous urgent priorities. It has declared compensation for those injured in the unrest, which began in July and killed more than 500 people.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, the home affairs adviser, has issued a warning to Awami League, advising the party against attempting a counter-revolution and trying to create disorder.
