Protesters chanted slogans demanding peace and equality amid the recent wave of violence.
London:
A large crowd gathered outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Saturday to protest alleged violence against minority Hindus and other groups in Bangladesh following the resignation and departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this week.
Protesters carried Bangladeshi flags and held posters with messages such as “Protect our temples in Bangladesh,” “Hindu lives matter” and “We want justice.”
They chanted slogans demanding peace and equality amid the recent wave of violence.
The demonstration included activists from several human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and Indian-American Hindu allies who stood in solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Unadi, a protester from Bangladesh, expressed concern over the helplessness of Hindus in Bangladesh and said the majority of the population is preventing them from speaking out against injustice.
“Our country became independent in 1971 so that all communities could live peacefully. But now we are suffering from the atrocities committed by the majority community,” Unadi said.
Comparing the situation in Bangladesh with other countries, he noted that while governments around the world protect their minorities, the opposite is true in Bangladesh, forcing many to flee the country.
“People’s mentality must change so that we can live peacefully. In modern times like these, all communities must learn to coexist peacefully. We are all equals,” he added.
A protester from the Bengali Christian Association in Britain emphasized the need for equal treatment for all communities.
“I demand the interim government to amend the constitution because it currently stipulates that Bangladesh is a Muslim country. However, all communities fought for Bangladesh’s independence, so the country belongs to everyone,” she said.
Another protester pointed out that Bangladeshi minorities are being forced to flee due to the continued atrocities of the majority community.
“We are gathered here because people in Bangladesh have been torturing and burning our homes for the past five to six days. They cannot take our country from us and they cannot deport us. We want to live safely and peacefully in our country. Violence against minorities must stop,” he said.
Another protester said his home in Bangladesh had been looted and set on fire several days ago.
“My house was set on fire. A few days ago, many people looted our house,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
