On 7th August (local time), New York Times changed headline of one of its published news reports after facing severe backlash from readers. Earlier, the headline read “Hindus in Bangladesh Face Revenge Attacks After Prime Minister’s Exit” which attracted heavy criticism on social media.
In the report, NYT asserted that Hindus were under attack as they were seen as “allies” of Sheikh Hasina’s political party Awami League. While the media house acknowledged that Hindus were being targeted in the Muslim-dominating country, they attempted to whitewash the communal angle to it by saying Hindus were under attack for supporting Hasina. So much so, they also quoted a student leader Nahid Islam stating the attack on Hindus was being done by those who want to “destroy” the student movement.
Human Rights Watch also pushed the same narrative. Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch said, “Hindus are being attacked because they traditionally supported her Awami League party. Bangladeshis came out on the streets to demand an end to authoritarianism, and these attacks undermine their just demand for human rights.”
Later the media house quietly changed the headline to “Hindus in Bangladesh Face Attacks After Prime Minister’s Exit”
Though the title has been changed, the content remained the same, pushing the narrative that Hindus were being targeted as they supported Hasina’s political party and not because of communal reasons.
Backlash over headline in report on New York Times on social media
NYT’s blatant attempt to push false narrative whitewashing communal angle in attack on Hindus was criticised extensively on social media. Author Abhinav Agarwal said, “If there is a genocide to whitewash, mass murders to defend, pedophiles to protect, the venerable New York Times can be relied upon.”
If there is a genocide to whitewash, mass murders to defend, pedophiles to protect, the venerable New York Times can be relied upon.
— Abhinav Agarwal (@AbhinavAgarwal) August 8, 2024
1️⃣Justifying the ongoing genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh—attacks on Hindus are "revenge" attacks. Changes headline after outrage (image credit… pic.twitter.com/lHQ5j1hATK
Journalist Swati Goel Sharma wrote on X, “Imagine what the ground situation must be that even New York Times has published a report today on targeted attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh? Protesters who helped oust Hasina have been quoted saying “ordinary Hindus”, and not just Awami League leaders, are facing attacks on their lives, homes and temples. This, when daily exodus of Hindus from Bangladesh has only increased over the decades. Shame on everyone who tried to whitewash communal atrocities against Hindus In Bangladesh just because the mobs are also targeting Muslim Awami leaders and policemen. The bloodshed will hopefully end soon, but eradication of Hindus from Bangladesh will not. Like in Pakistan, the world would silently watch.”
Imagine what the ground situation must be that even New York Times has published a report today on targeted attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh?
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) August 8, 2024
Protesters who helped oust Hasina have been quoted saying “ordinary Hindus”, and not just Awami League leaders, are facing attacks… pic.twitter.com/efhSyb888N
X user Bala said, “New York Times has reported the Genocide of Bangladeshi Hindus as ‘Revenge Attacks.’ NYT is trying to whitewash the killings of Hindus as attacks against supporters of Sheikh Hasina.”
New York Times @nytimes has reported the Genocide of Bangladeshi Hindus as 'Revenge Attacks.'
— BALA (@erbmjha) August 8, 2024
NYT is trying to whitewash the killings of Hindus as attacks against supporters of Sheikh Hasina. pic.twitter.com/36jtxewunb
AUthor Abhishek Banerjee said, “For New York Times, attack on Hindus in Bangladesh is not persecution. It is “revenge”. Revenge for what? A “perception” that Hindus supported Sheikh Hasina in elections… This is 1930s Nazi level stuff from New York Times.”
For New York Times, attack on Hindus in Bangladesh is not persecution
— Abhishek (@AbhishBanerj) August 8, 2024
It is "revenge"
Revenge for what?
A "perception" that Hindus supported Sheikh Hasina in elections…
This is 1930s Nazi level stuff from New York Times pic.twitter.com/Lc8Hce8umn
X user Anshul Saxena said, “The New York Times justified the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh by calling them “revenge attacks.” Now, a narrative is being created that Hindus are culprits, so they deserve this, while those carrying out the attacks are being whitewashed. This is international media for you.”
The New York Times justified the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh by calling them "revenge attacks."
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) August 8, 2024
Now, a narrative is being created that Hindus are culprits, so they deserve this, while those carrying out the attacks are being whitewashed.
This is international media for you. pic.twitter.com/F7pLaHomxE
Advocate Ishkaran Singh Bhandari said, “New York Times justification for GENOCIDE OF HINDUS IN BANGLADESH! The Globalist’s have no value nor belief in Human Rights for Hindu. That’s why CAA, that’s why Bharat should do whatever it can to protect.”
New York Times justification for GENOCIDE OF HINDUS IN BANGLADESH!
— Ishkaran Singh Bhandari (@ishkarnBHANDARI) August 8, 2024
The Globalist’s have no value nor belief in Human Rights for Hindu.
That’s why CAA, that’s why Bharat should do whatever it can to protect. pic.twitter.com/WjZiUKdKRr
Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh
On 5th August, it came to light that Islamists attacked Hindus’ houses, shops and temples in Bangladesh in the guise of protests against the Sheikh Hasina government. Despite the resignation by Hasina from the Prime Minister’s post, the protests continued and so did the attacks on Hindus. Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar has also expressed concerns over attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Earlier, OpIndia reported about the list of several attacks released by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and attacks reported by The Daily Star, a leading Bangladeshi newspaper. Several videos and photos of attacks on Hindus have also surfaced on social media.
