The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh has ushered in a wave of fear and insecurity for minority communities of the country. Hindus, Sanatanis, and individuals of other faiths have reported a surge in attacks and threats, targeting people of minority communities and their religious temples.
On September 17, a particularly egregious incident occurred when Mahant Maharaj Kalipada Bhattacharya, a respected religious leader in Kaivadyadham, hilly Chattogram, was attacked by Muslim fundamentalists in Bangladesh. This heinous act sparked widespread condemnation and protests across the country as well as in Tripura.
In response to the attack, the Belonia Barpathari Ram Thakur Mandir Committee organised a protest march on Thursday. The procession, which drew a massive turnout of devotees, began at the temple premises and concluded at the Ram Thakur Mandir after passing through Barpathari Sonapur and Lakshmipur.
Addressing the media at the conclusion of the march, two members of the temple committee expressed their deep concern over the escalating violence against minorities in Bangladesh. They unequivocally condemned the extremist forces responsible for these attacks and urged the Bangladeshi government to take immediate and decisive action to protect the rights and safety of all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Even as the religious minorities of Bangladesh are coming under severe attacks, the main Political parties of the State- ruling BJP, Opposition CPIM and Congress – are not holding any significant movement across the State condemning the atrocities.
While the ruling BJP is busy in a ‘membership drive’ in Tripura, CPIM and Congress are searching for political issues to corner the ruling Party – but no significant protest rally against attacks on the minorities in Bangladesh has been organised. This ‘indifference’ of the political parties has raised many an eyebrow.
Notably, TIPRA Motha Party’s supremo Pradyot Kishore held a massive rally in Sabroom under South Tripura on Thursday expressing solidarity with the Chakma people of the CHT.
A large number of Chakma people of Sabroom and adjoining areas attended the rally. Pradyot Kishore vehemently condemned the attacks on the Chakma people of the CHT.
Debbarma in a post on the X said, “Think about it, if we can speak about Israel, Palestine, Russia and Ukraine then why are we silent when we have to speak about our minority plight in Bangladesh? After all, it was a part of our history.”
He urged the Centre to expose the ongoing assaults in Bangladesh at the United Nations.
Devi Chakma, a prominent leader from the Chakma community, expressed her support for the initiative taken by the Tipra Motha Party.
She assured that the Chakma community in India would stand in solidarity with their counterparts in Bangladesh and praised Pradyot Kishore’s efforts to protect the rights of indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
