Tripura holds massive protest rally against persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh

Over 1,000 people, including intellectuals, journalists, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and other residents of Agartala city, held a massive protest on Sunday against the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh.  

Tripura shares an 856 km long international border with Bangladesh. The protest rally was held under the banner of the Forum for Protection of Minorities in Bangladesh and started in front of the Agartala Press Club.  

The President of the forum, veteran journalist Subal Kumar Dey, said, “Soon after the Hasina government collapsed, anarchy has been prevailing in Bangladesh. It has surpassed all past records. I have never seen such lawlessness and anarchy before. A jungle raj is prevailing in the neighboring country, and as a result, the Hindu minorities are coming under attack.”  

Speaking with reporters, senior journalist and President of Agartala Press Club, Jayanta Bhattacharya, said that the Forum for Protection of Minorities in Bangladesh is a newly formed organization, serving as a platform for journalists, doctors, lawyers, business people, and people from all walks of life.  

“Today, we organized a rally in Agartala city as we are deeply concerned about what is happening in Bangladesh. With grave concern, we have witnessed that this quota movement has resulted in the torture of minority people, vandalism of their temples and business establishments, and even forced conversions of Hindus, which we cannot tolerate. We are protesting these actions with this rally,” he said.  

Bhattacharya further stated that as long as such atrocities continue in Bangladesh, such as attacks on Hindus, the movement will also continue.  

The organization has drafted two memorandums, which they plan to send to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding direct intervention from the Indian government to address these incidents. They will also send a memorandum to Md. Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh.  

Meanwhile, senior journalist and social worker Pranab Sarkar stated that many Hindu people have been attacked, and houses have been set ablaze.  

“Many of them have been killed, and Hindus were even asked not to organize Durga Puja. We are protesting this across the city, and later we will send a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India,” he said.