In an unprecedented development, thousands of members of a hardline Islamist group attacked Hindu temples, trains, and several other public properties in eastern Bangladesh on Sunday. As per the media, this violence spread across the nations in the wake of a visit by Indian PM Narendra Modi.
As per local police at least 11 protesters have been killed since Friday in clashes with police during demonstrations organized by radical Islamist groups against PM Modi’s visit. Violence has further raged on since PM Modi’s departure as anger has swelled over the deaths.
PM Modi visited Bangladesh on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s nationhood, and he left on Saturday. However, Islamist protesters accused PM Modi of discriminatory policies against Muslims in India, and keep of protesting against him in several parts of the country.
On Friday, dozens of people were injured in the densely-populated capital Dhaka as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. Thousands of protesters marched down streets across Bangladesh on Sunday.
Supporters with the Hefazat-e-Islam group attacked a train in the eastern district of Brahmanbaria, resulting in 10 people being injured. They attacked the train and damaged its engine room and almost all the coaches.
Several government offices, including the land office and a government-sponsored music academy, were set on fire and several Hindu temples were also attacked. Hindus in those regions are living in extreme fear and feeling really helpless.
Islamist demonstrators also set alight two buses in the western district of Rajshahi on Sunday, while hundreds of protesters clashed with police in several places, pelting them with stones, three police sources in three districts said.
Protesters are using electric poles, timber and sandbags to block roads and police retaliated with rubber bullets and tear gas, leaving dozens injured in Narayanganj, just outside the capital.
