In Bangladesh, the discontent towards Sheikh Hasina has started to manifest in new ways. There have been attacks on temples and violence against the Hindu community. Indian institutions have also been targeted, and two Hindu councilors have been killed. Jamaat-e-Islami has warned that countries harboring Sheikh Hasina will face intense protests at their embassies.
Local reports indicate that Hindu homes and temples, including ISKCON and Kali temples in Dhaka, have been attacked. This has forced many worshippers to seek shelter. Rioters have also damaged an Indian cultural center. Kajol Debnath, head of the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, reported that mobs have attacked at least four Hindu temples nationwide, causing substantial damage.
The situation has worsened following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. The Daily Star reports that Haradhan Roy, an Awami League member and a councilor in Rangpur City Corporation, was shot dead. Another Hindu councilor from Rangpur, Kajol Roy, was also killed in the protests. Witnesses said that the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center (IGCC) and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area were damaged by rioters. Tensions have increased since Hasina’s resignation, and the Hindu community is deeply concerned.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, protesters have set fire to several key sites in Dhaka, including the Bangabandhu Bhavan at 32 Dhanmondi, also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. This museum honors Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father, who was assassinated in 1975 while serving as president. The Indira Gandhi Cultural Center, which opened in March 2010, hosted various cultural events and workshops, with Indian professionals providing training in classical music and dance like Kathak and Manipuri.