Two Hindu councillors killed in Bangladesh clashes; protesters vandalise ISKCON, Kali temples
Dhaka/IBNS: Two Hindu councillors were among the 100 people killed in Sunday’s violent clashes across Bangladesh that also witnessed the vandalisation of several homes and temples of Hindus, including ISKCON and Kali temples, forcing devotees to seek shelter, local media reports said.
According to The Daily Star, Haradhan Roy, a member of the Parshuram Thana Awami League and the councillor of Ward 4 in Rangpur City Corporation, was shot dead during Sunday's clashes.
Another Hindu councillor from Rangpur, Kajal Roy, was also killed in the protests, reported The New Indian Express.
Targeting Hindus Houses 🙏🙏🙏#AllEyesOnBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/AFPYJJBFLH
— Voice Of Bangladeshi Hindus 🇧🇩 (@hindu8789) August 5, 2024
On Sunday, fresh protests erupted across Bangladesh, killing at least 98 people, including 14 police officers, and injuring hundreds.
At least 300 people have been killed since violence broke out in Bangladesh in early July, according to media reports.
#BREAKING: Protesters have stormed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina palace.#SheikhHasina #Ganabhaban #BangladeshViolence #SheikhHasinaResigns pic.twitter.com/K7ngFU6kIN
— Republic (@republic) August 5, 2024
Sunday's clashes broke out between protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and supporters of the ruling party across various regions of Bangladesh.
The intensity of the clashes has forced authorities to take drastic measures, including cutting off mobile internet services and imposing a nationwide curfew for an indefinite period.
On Monday, the Bangladesh Army, which gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to resign after her government couldn't control the violence, took charge of the country. In a televised address Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military will form an "interim government" and told protesters to stand down.
"There is a crisis. I have met Opposition leaders and we have decided to form an interim government to run this country. I take all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please stop the violence," the Army chief said.
Flanked by the Naval and Air Force Chiefs, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman says the honourable PM has resigned and that an interim government will take over. pic.twitter.com/Z1pqaUeQoq
— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) August 5, 2024
Earlier in the day protesters broke into Gonobhaban - the Dhaka residence of the Prime Minister. A statue of Bangladesh's founding father and Sheikh Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also vandalised in Dhaka by a group of protesters.
According to local media, as many as 400,000 protesters were on the streets but it was impossible to verify the figure. Soldiers and police with armoured vehicles had barricaded routes to Hasina's office with barbed wire, media reports said, but vast crowds flooded the streets, tearing down barriers.
However, by then Hasina fled the country. She landed at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. There are no reports yet if Modi will meet Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina is expected to leave for London later where she may seek political asylum, NDTV reported quoting sources.
Sources told news agency ANI Sheikh Hasina's plane, a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport, is parked near the Indian Air Force's C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars.
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