Amid reports of violence against minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, made a strong appeal for unity. On Tuesday, Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, visited the Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka, where he met with Hindu leaders and emphasized the need to ensure the rights of all citizens, regardless of religion.
During his visit, Yunus urged the public to “exercise patience” and judge his government based on its actions. He had assumed office as the head of the interim government last Thursday, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down amid widespread student protests.
In meetings with representatives from Hindu organizations, including the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, Yunus stated, “Rights are equal for everyone. We are all one people with one right. Do not make any distinctions among us. Please, assist us. Exercise patience, and later judge what we were able to do and what we were not. If we fail, then criticize us.”
He further stressed the importance of unity, saying, “In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements. That is why such issues arise. Institutional arrangements need to be fixed,” as reported by The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi newspaper.
This is not the first time Yunus has spoken against attacks on minorities, previously condemning them as heinous acts. He had earlier remarked, “Are they not the people of this country? You (students) have been able to save this country; can’t you save some families? They are my brothers… we fought together, and we will stay together.”
In a statement on Sunday, Yunus praised the students who led the movement against Hasina, referring to her as a “monster” now removed from power. He expressed admiration for the students’ actions and acknowledged their role in his appointment as head of the interim government.
The unrest in Bangladesh had been simmering since before the January 7 elections, which saw Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League win by a landslide, though the elections were widely criticized as neither free nor fair. Protests intensified in June after the Bangladeshi high court reinstated a 30% reservation in government jobs for families of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence. Although the Supreme Court later reduced the quota, Hasina’s handling of the protests and her alleged derogatory comments about the protesters led to widespread outrage. The clashes resulted in over 100 deaths, and on August 5, massive student protests forced Hasina to resign and flee to India.
Even after Hasina’s resignation, violence persisted in some areas, with reports of minorities being targeted.
