SW News: Members of a forum representing minority communities in Muslim-majority Bangladesh took part in a hunger strike to protest against the attempts by political outfits to create an Islamic state. On October 22, members of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (HBCUC) organized a strike in the nation’s capital, Dhaka, to show their resentment against the alleged compromise of the Sheikh Hasina government with fundamentalists.

Joint Secretary of Monindra Kumar Nath said that there was no progress in fulfilling the demands of minorities as the government seems to be busy colluding with fundamentalists. He said none of the promises mentioned in the election manifesto of the ruling Awami League has been met.

During the electioneering in 2018, the Awami League had promised to enact legislation to protect the interest of minority communities and do away with inequality if elected. It had also pledged to create a national commission for minorities and implement the provisions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord to convince the Indigenous Peoples in the hilly areas.

Speaking to UCA News, Nath said: “Almost 46 months have passed since the 2018 national elections but the government has not implemented any of its promises, rather minorities are experiencing increased oppression.”

Echoing Nath, one of the three presidents of the outfit Nirmol Rozario, a Catholic, said that Hasina did not protect the rights of people belonging to minority communities and it was time to have a rethink on supporting the Awami League in the next elections.

Last year, there were several attacks on minority communities. There were more than 200 incidents of temple attacks, including arson, and three Hindus lost their lives while  300 others were injured. The same year, as many as 180 houses belonging to Hindus and 50 shops were attacked.

It was the slogan ‘Religion according to your own belief but festivals common to everyone of the League that led it to victory in the last election as it won over the minorities.

Out of 160 million people, 90 percent are Muslims and eight percent are Hindus. The rest comprise Buddhists and Christians.