On Tuesday, US entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy expressed his concerns about the “targeted violence” against Hindus in Bangladesh.
“The targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh is wrong, it’s concerning, and it’s a cautionary tale for victimhood-laced quota systems,” Ramaswamy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Violence Follows Sheikh Hasina’s Resignation
Following former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country on August 5, there have been reports of attacks on Hindus, the largest minority community in Bangladesh.
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Reports of Increased Attacks on Minorities
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad reported that there have been 205 incidents of attacks on minorities across 52 districts since the Hasina government fell.
Bangladesh’s interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus has condemned the attacks on minorities. On Tuesday, he visited a Hindu temple and affirmed that rights are equal for everyone in Bangladesh.
Ramaswamy Criticizes Bangladesh’s Quota System
Ramaswamy criticized Bangladesh’s quota system in his post, arguing that it has been a disaster.
“In 2018, protests led Bangladesh to scrap most of the quotas, but the victim-patrons fought back…and the quota system was reinstated this year. That triggered more protests which toppled the government, and the prime minister fled. Once chaos begins, it can’t easily be reined in. Radicals are now targeting Hindu minorities,” he said.
He added, “A quota conflict created to rectify the wrongs of rape and violence in 1971 is now leading to more rape and violence in 2024. Bloodshed is the endpoint of grievance and victimhood. It’s hard not to look at Bangladesh and wonder what lessons we would do well to learn right here at home.”
Last Saturday, thousands of Hindus protested in Dhaka and Chattagram, demanding protection from attacks on their temples, homes, and businesses. The protesters blocked traffic for over three hours at Dhaka’s Shahbag and called for special courts to try those accused of persecuting minorities, 10 percent parliamentary seats for minorities, and the enactment of a minority protection law, among other demands.
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