Protests in Bangladesh Lead to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Resignation
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in Bangladesh. The country has been rocked by massive protests and severe violence, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.
Amidst the unrest, there have been alarming reports of atrocities against minorities, particularly Hindus. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, have turned into anti-government demonstrations. Extremist groups like Jamat-e-Islami, which has been banned from contesting polls, are being accused of committing severe acts of violence, while police and the army are not enforcing the curfew.
FIIDS has been closely monitoring the situation. On August 7, FIIDS held a panel discussion featuring experts like India Foundation Executive Director Captain Alok Bansal, HRCBM Executive Director Priya Saha, and FIIDS Chief of Policy and Strategy Khanderao Kand to deliberate on the crisis and compile recommendations.
FIIDS has urgently called on US President Joe Biden, the US State Department, the IRF Ambassador, and presidential candidates to take immediate action to ensure peace in Bangladesh and protect minorities, preventing another potential Hindu Genocide. They have also requested the United Nations to deploy observers and peacekeeping forces to contain the situation and ensure the protection of vulnerable communities.
FIIDS has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to leverage their influence with the new government and military of Bangladesh to establish peace and safeguard minorities. They have also suggested setting up temporary shelters along the Bangladesh border to protect those fleeing the violence.
The Indian American community has been urged to engage with their elected officials, organize vigils, and peaceful demonstrations to raise awareness about the plight of minorities in Bangladesh and work towards preventing any potential genocide.
FIIDS has termed the situation a dire reminder of the nation’s bloodied history, where genocidal acts in 1971 led to the killings, rapes, and forced migration of millions, drastically reducing the minority population from 22 percent to approximately 8 percent by 2022. FIIDS stated that it is crucial for the international community, led by the United States and the United Nations, to act swiftly to prevent further atrocities and uphold human rights for all.
Doubts Revealed
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, located to the east of India. It has a lot of rivers and is known for its rich culture and history.
Prime Minister -: A Prime Minister is the head of the government in some countries. They make important decisions and lead the country.
Sheikh Hasina -: Sheikh Hasina is a political leader in Bangladesh. She has been the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for many years.
Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) -: FIIDS is an organization that studies and supports issues related to Indians living in other countries. They also focus on important events in nearby countries like Bangladesh.
Protests -: Protests are when people gather to show they are unhappy about something. They can be peaceful or sometimes turn violent.
Jamat-e-Islami -: Jamat-e-Islami is a political and religious group in Bangladesh. Some people accuse them of being involved in violent activities.
US President Joe Biden -: Joe Biden is the President of the United States, a powerful country. He makes important decisions for his country and sometimes helps other countries too.
United Nations -: The United Nations is an international organization where many countries work together to solve global problems like peace and security.
Minorities -: Minorities are smaller groups of people within a larger population. In Bangladesh, Hindus are a minority group.
