'Who are we, Bengali Bengali': Bangladeshi Hindus protest amid growing violence

Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus got on streets of Dhaka to protest against a rise in targeted attacks against them and vandalisation of temples following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Protesters - some of them carrying posters demanding Bangladeshi minorities be "saved" - chanted slogans of "who are we, Bengali Bengali" and demanded for peace as they blocked an intersection in the capital on Friday (Aug 9).

Notably, Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh's population of 170 million, have usually supported Hasina's Awami League party, which sparked people's anger after violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month.

A school teacher was killed and at least 45 people injured as homes, businesses, and temples of Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh were targeted on Monday, which resulted in widespread protests by Hindus.

"There is deep fret, anxiety and uncertainty among minorities across the country," the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said in an open letter on Friday.

The United Nations is demanding an end to the racially charged violence in Bangladesh, where thousands of Hindus are desperately trying to escape to neighbouring India.

Amid a surge in racially motivated attacks, the UN Secretary-General's office has issued a strong condemnation of the violence in Bangladesh, as a growing number of Hindus seek refuge across the border.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed for the "safety and protection" of Hindus and Bangladesh's other minorities in a message on his social media handle X on Thursday.

Student leader Nahid Islam wants Hasina to face trial

A Bangladeshi student leader who was instrumental in overthrowing Sheikh Hasina and is now part of the interim government said she must face trial when she returns home -for theplanned killings during her term, including during recent protests, which led her to resign and flee the country.

"I am curious why she fled the country," student leader Nahid Islam, told Reuters in his first interview since joining the government on Thursday as an adviser.

"We will seek justice for all the killings that happened under her, that has been one of the main demands of our revolution. Even if she does not come back, we will work towards that,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)