Is Yunus Right to Call Hindu Persecution in Bangladesh 'Baseless'?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council condemns Yunus' remarks.
- UN reports document ongoing persecution of Hindus.
- Awami League criticizes the Yunus-led government for its inaction.
- Public outrage is growing against religious discrimination.
- Yunus' comments are seen as a denial of ongoing issues.
Dhaka, Oct 1 (NationPress) The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a prominent human rights organization advocating against religious discrimination, has voiced profound sorrow and outrage regarding Chief Advisor of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus’ remarks dismissing the suffering of Hindu minorities throughout Bangladesh as “baseless”.
Yunus made these statements during an interview with the Global Thinkers Organisation (GTO) at the UN General Assembly in New York, outright rejecting claims of persecution faced by Hindu minorities during his interim government's administration.
In response to Yunus' comments, the Council condemned his statements, asserting they “constituted a denial of the truth.”
“In a protest letter sent to the media, the central committee of the Unity Council highlighted that on August 13, 2024, during discussions with leaders from religious and ethnic minorities at Jamuna, they had illustrated the persistent organized violence against minorities, particularly the Hindu community, and had urgently demanded its immediate end,” the statement from the human rights body indicated.
“Additionally, the UN Fact-Finding Mission report dated February 12, 2025, documented various instances of persecution against minorities, including Hindus, occurring from August 5, 2024, and continuing in isolated incidents across the country,” it further stated.
The Council also noted that on October 1, 2024, in an interview with the American news outlet NPR, Yunus himself acknowledged the persecution of minorities, including Hindus, that took place after August 5, 2024, in response to a journalist's inquiry—a report subsequently released by the Bangladeshi national daily Prothom Alo.
Bangladesh has seen a rise in violence targeting minorities, including Hindus, under Yunus' interim government, leading to widespread outrage among the populace and various human rights organizations globally.
Recently, the Awami League party of Bangladesh fiercely criticized the ongoing “inhuman persecution” of the Hindu community and the destruction of their places of worship under Yunus' interim government.
“Attacks on homes of religious minorities, looting, arson, and indiscriminate killings persist relentlessly—acts that amount to genocide. While these atrocities were previously carried out with the protection of this illegitimate, fascist Yunus regime, it is now the regime itself that is engaging in assaults on the Hindu community,” declared the Awami League.