On October 21, netizens across borders raised voice against the atrocities Bangladeshi Hindus have faced in the last few days. The hashtag #SaveBangladeshiHindus was trending on Twitter and Koo for several hours. The hashtag was specifically aimed to highlight the attacks on Hindus that started after a Quran was found in a Durga Puja Pandal. Muslim mobs attacked Hindu temples, puja pandals, houses and businesses for over five days across Bangladesh, alleging sacrilege of their holy book.
Twitter User Anonymous Sanantani said, “Bangladesh: Islamic extremists vandalise multiple Durga Puja pandals, three Hindus reported dead #SaveBangladeshiHindus”.
Bangladesh: Islamic extremists vandalise multiple Durga Puja pandals, three Hindus reported dead #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/2c2q2KZFRV
— Anonymous Sanatani (@sanatani_anony) October 21, 2021
ABVP’s Anurag Gautam said, “Being a Hindu in Majority Islamic state like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan is in itself a crime, this is their secularism and in India, they have all rights still abuse Hindus. Hypocrites killing Innocent Hindus in Bangladesh.”
Being a #Hindu in Majority Islamic state like Bangladesh,Pakistan, Afghanistan is in itself a crime, this is their secularism and in India they have all rights still abuse Hindus. Hypocrites killing Innocent hindus in #Bangladesh #SaveHindusInBangladesh #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/Ukeb9vc8x9
— अनुराग गौतम Anurag Gautam🇮🇳 (@anuraggautam07) October 21, 2021
Nikunj Batra said, “25yr old Shri Krishna devotee Partha Das brutally murdered by peaceful mob in Bangladesh Any Human right activist raising their voice against this brutal incident? Does Hindu life really matter?”
25yr old Shri Krishna devotee
— Nikunj Batra (@NIKUNJBATRA7) October 21, 2021
Partha Das brutally murdered by peaceful mob in Bangladesh
Any Human right activist raising their voice against this brutal incident?
Does Hindu life really matter? #SaveBangladeshiHindus
Pointing out the attack on ISKCON temple, Twitter user wokeuphindu said, “We served Food they served blood.”
We served Food they served blood. #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/A82E5N7l9x
— wokeuphindu (@wokeuphindu) October 21, 2021
Poet Kavi Kamal Agney said, “Vandalism and riots during Durga Pooja in Bangaladesh is a fresh example of violence against Hindu Community. Such attacks have continued for decades be it in India, Pakistan or else.” He urged PM Modi to intervene and save Hindus.
#SaveBangladeshiHindus
— Kavi Kamal Agney (@kamalagney) October 21, 2021
Vandalism and riots during Durga Pooja in
Bangaladesh is a fresh example of violence against Hindu Community. Such attacks have continued for decades be it in India, Pakistan or else. Can @PMOIndia help to resolve this issue once and for all? pic.twitter.com/aAgFxsJkm3
ABVP’s Ankitaa Biswas said, “To restore the tyrannical Caliphate of Ottoman Empire, Muslims in 🇮🇳 launched Khilafat Movement. Hindus across the globe must unify to #SaveBangladeshiHindus & their basic ‘Right To Life’ with dignity at the ongoing Hindu Genocide(Not the 1st but must be the last) in Bangladesh.”
To restore the tyrannical Caliphate of Ottoman Empire,Muslims in 🇮🇳 launched Khilafat Movement. #Hindus across the globe must unify to
— Ankitaa Biswas (@bhardwajankitaa) October 21, 2021
#SaveBangladeshiHindus & their basic ‘Right To Life’ with dignity at the ongoing Hindu Genocide(Not the 1st but must be the last) in #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/KjnxALqhMq
The hashtag was trending on Koo too.
Apart from the netizens, on-ground protests have also been happening in India and other countries. A couple of days back, UK Councillor Pushpita Gupta sat on a hunger strike.
@GuptaPushpita thank you🙏🙏#SaveBangladeshiHindus #SaveHindus #Hindus_Attacked_In_Bangladesh #StopCommunalAttack #BangladeshiHinduWantSafety @BBCNews @Reuters @CNN @AFP @ABC @CNBC @hrw @amnesty @NewsFromAmnesty @htTweets @TimesNow @nytimes pic.twitter.com/QEiJyzP1rP
— Shammo Biswas (@AdamForrester11) October 19, 2021
A protest was organised against the attacks outside the Finnish Parliament as Finland heads The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. In a video of the event, a woman was heard saying that Bangladesh needs to save minorities. “Hindu Lives Matter,” she added.
“I want justice” against #Hindus_Attacked_In_Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/acnPIb1S4w
— Gaurav Jha (@gjha88) October 21, 2021
Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Nepal chapter also staged protests against the attacks.
What happened in Bangladesh?
The attacks happened over the alleged sacrilege of Quran in a Puja Pandal. However, Police found that the man who triggered communal violence against Hindus by placing Quran at the Durga Puja venue was Iqbal Hossain, a Muslim. For over five days, houses and temples of the Hindu community in Bangladesh have been under the attack of radical Islamists. It started on October 12 when multiple incidents of idol vandalism took place ahead of Puja. On Sunday, Islamic extremists vandalized the Durga idol of Sri Shamshaneshwar Shiva Vigraha Mandir in the Firingibazar area in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
On October 14, it was reported that several other Puja pandals were vandalized. Videos of broken idols, demolished pandals and Moorti of Maa Durga being thrown in a pond emerged on social media platforms along with other videos of attacks on Hindus. On October 16, the ISKCON temple was attacked by a 400-500 strong Muslim mob. On October 17 and October 18, the attacks continued, and houses of Hindus were vandalized. Many were reported injured, and some reported dead after the attacks.
