Justice Markandey Katju explores the tragic reduction of Hindus in Bangladesh from 30% in 1947 to just 8% today. This article examines the systemic violence and persecution faced by the Hindu minority, including recent attacks following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Justice Katju advocates for a balanced approach to secularism, condemning atrocities against all minorities regardless of their location. Watch his insightful commentary and analysis on the ongoing plight of Hindus in Bangladesh through various video sources and his personal reflections.
The plight of Hindus in Bangladesh
Hindus were about 30% of the population of Bangladesh in 1947, but are only about 8% today
And often these, and their temples, are targeted by bigoted mobs, as happened recently after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India.
One may recall the largescale attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus after the Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992, about which the brave Taslima Nasreen wrote her book 'Lajja'.
Many more such incidents of attacks on the Hindu minority have occurred in Bangladesh.
I have always condemned atrocities on minorities, whether Hindu minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh or the Muslim minority in India. I regard a hallmark of a civilised society to be that its minorities can live with dignity and honour. From that viewpoint, neither India, nor Pakistan, nor Bangladesh are civilised countries.
Secularism must be a two-way traffic. In other words, it won't do to only condemn attacks or atrocities by Hindus on the Muslim minority ( as in India ), while overlooking the attacks and atrocities by Muslims on the Hindu minority ( as in Bangladesh and Pakistan ).
But that is what many so-called 'secular' parties and 'secular' politicians in India do ( i.e. ignoring attacks on the Hindu minorities, while condemning attacks on the Muslim minority ), perhaps with the thought of not alienating their Muslim vote bank.
Since I am not in politics and have no vote bank which I desire to appease, I can be more objective and balanced. I condemn atrocities and discrimination against all minorities, wherever situated.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
