Hindu Diaspora Demands Protection Amid Bangladesh Protests - Reports

MOSCOW, August 11 (Bernama-Sputnik) - The Hindu diaspora in Bangladesh walked out in Dhaka and the second largest city of Chittagong this week to demand protection from violent rioters, NDTV broadcaster reported on Sunday, according to Sputnik.

Members of the minority Hindu group have been reportedly attacked over 200 times in 52 districts of Bangladesh since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday. Hundreds of Hindus were injured in attacks on their homes, workplaces and temples.

Hindu protesters demanded that special tribunals try those engaged in persecuting minorities. They also called for the allocation of 10 per cent of the parliamentary seats to the country’s minority groups and a law on minority protection, NDTV reported.

Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus has condemned the attacks on minority communities, urging the student protest movement to protect minority groups.

The new Interior Ministry adviser, Sakhawat Hossain, has ordered police officers who have not returned to their duties to do so by Thursday, the country's newspaper Daily Sun reported. As of Saturday, 538 out of 639 police stations have reopened across Bangladesh.

Deadly protests began across Bangladesh after the announcement of a multi-day "non-cooperation action" with the authorities by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Sunday. Clashes between students, police, and government supporters escalated into riots. Hasina resigned amid the unrest.

Economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as interim prime minister on Thursday.

-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK