A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Farhan Haq, confirmed on Friday that the United Nations stands against attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh amidst escalating violence. Haq emphasized the UN’s stance against racially based violence and incitement, reflecting the organization’s concern over the ongoing unrest.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in violence in Bangladesh, with numerous reports and videos documenting the destruction of temples, businesses, and homes belonging to the Hindu community. This unrest has followed the resignation and flight of Sheikh Hasina from the country, amid violent protests. According to Bangladeshi media, at least 232 lives have been lost since Hasina’s departure, with the total death toll exceeding 550 since the student protests began in mid-July.
Gwyn Lewis, the UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, who attended Muhammad Yunus’s swearing-in as the head of the interim government, expressed the UN’s commitment to supporting Yunus’s calls for peace and inclusivity. However, Haq noted that Guterres has not yet had a direct conversation with Yunus and indicated that the UN would await any official requests for investigations into the violence from the new Bangladeshi administration.
In response to the crisis, India has announced the formation of a committee to monitor the situation along the Indo-Bangladesh border, focusing on the safety of Indians and other minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh.