Michael Kugelman Discusses Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh and Political Instability
Washington DC [US], August 11: Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center, has raised concerns about the violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus. He emphasized that the country cannot make meaningful progress until these attacks stop and the law and order situation is addressed.
In an interview, Kugelman refuted allegations of foreign interference behind the mass uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, stating he had not seen any plausible evidence to support these claims. He highlighted the need for more scrutiny and investigation into the attacks on minority Hindu communities.
On Friday, a large protest in Dhaka called for more protection for the Hindu community. Kugelman also pointed out the issue of misinformation regarding the situation in Bangladesh, urging media outlets to address this aspect.
Kugelman dismissed allegations from Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who claimed foreign interference behind the protests. He noted that the unrest was driven by internal factors, particularly the government’s harsh crackdown on student protesters.
He described the political instability in Bangladesh as a troubling situation, emphasizing the need to restore law and order for a peaceful political transition. Kugelman noted the security vacuum due to the lack of police and army presence, which violent actors have taken advantage of.
Bangladesh is experiencing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina resigning as Prime Minister on August 5 amid mounting protests. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations.
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to assist the Bangladeshi government in ending the violence against Hindus. Krishnamoorthi requested Blinken to engage with Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, to bring the violence to an end and bring perpetrators to justice.
Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government on August 8, three days after Sheikh Hasina resigned. Seventeen members of the interim government took their oaths at a ceremony in Dhaka, with Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus sworn in as the chief advisor, equivalent to a Prime Minister, by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Doubts Revealed
Michael Kugelman -: Michael Kugelman is a person who works at a place called The Wilson Center. He studies and talks about countries in South Asia, like India and Bangladesh.
South Asia Institute -: The South Asia Institute is a part of The Wilson Center where people study and discuss issues related to South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The Wilson Center -: The Wilson Center is a place in the USA where experts study and talk about important global issues. It’s named after Woodrow Wilson, a former US President.
Hindus -: Hindus are people who follow Hinduism, which is a major religion in India and other parts of South Asia.
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, located to the east of India. It has a lot of people and its capital city is Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina -: Sheikh Hasina is a political leader in Bangladesh. She has been the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for many years.
Indian-American Congressman -: An Indian-American Congressman is a person of Indian origin who is a member of the US Congress, which is like the Parliament in India.
Raja Krishnamoorthi -: Raja Krishnamoorthi is an Indian-American who works in the US Congress. He helps make laws and represents people in the USA.
US Secretary of State -: The US Secretary of State is a high-ranking official in the USA who deals with other countries. Right now, this person is Antony Blinken.
Antony Blinken -: Antony Blinken is the current US Secretary of State. He helps the US government talk and work with other countries.
Muhammad Yunus -: Muhammad Yunus is a famous person from Bangladesh who won a Nobel Prize for helping poor people with small loans. He is now leading Bangladesh’s interim government.
interim government -: An interim government is a temporary government set up to manage a country until a new, permanent government is chosen.
