Dhaka //

Sanatan Adhikar Manch held a torch march in the capital to demand an end to attacks on minority communities in different parts of the country and justice for those involved. If the demand is not met, they have announced to blockade Dhaka by long march on October 5.

On Friday (September 6) in the evening, the leaders and workers of Sanatan Adhikar Manch took out a torch procession from the central Shaheed Minar to the National Press Club. From the rally, ‘Stop minority persecution, it must be done’, ‘Why attack on my temple, I want answers, I want answers’, ‘Why did you kill my brother, the administration wants answers’, ‘This country does not belong to anyone, I will not leave this country’, ‘My Slogans such as ‘Mati my mother, I will not leave this country’, ‘Jago re jago, Hindu wake up’ were chanted. The national anthem was also played before the start of the procession.
Sanatan Adhikar Manch held a rally at the central Shaheed Minar before the torch procession. There, the organizer of the rally and general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Parishad Suman Roy announced the new program. He said, if the previously announced 8 points are not implemented and the persecution of the Sanatan community is not stopped, Sanatan people from all over the country will come to Dhaka and block the road on October 5. The entire Dhaka city will be besieged by a long march on October 5.

After the fall of the government, people of the Hindu community held a large gathering at Shahbagh in the capital to protest the attacks on the minorities and demand justice. From there, 8 points of demand were raised. Government advisers held meetings with representatives of the Hindu community.

In today’s rally, General Secretary of Bhaktasangh Society, Anil Pal said that even though the advisors of the government have promised to meet the demands, not a single demand has been fulfilled yet. Hindus are not able to live in peace anywhere in the country.

The Sanatan community’s 8-point demands include ‘speedy trial tribunals’ to try cases of attacks on minorities since the fall of the government on August 5, compensation and rehabilitation of victims of communal violence, enactment of Minority Protection Act, formation of Ministry of Minority Affairs, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust. Elevation to foundations, Buddhist and Christian religious welfare trusts also to foundations, Enactment of law for recovery and preservation of post-divine property, proper implementation of law on transfer of vested property, five days holiday on Durga Puja.

Today’s rally also protested the forced resignation of teachers in different parts of the country. They also demanded exemplary punishment for the students who insulted the teachers.

Bangladesh Hindu Parishad spokesperson Sajan Kumar Mishra said in the rally, the government comes, the government goes, but the persecution of minorities does not stop. Despite the students’ movement, the Sanatan community could not gain independence.

Prof. Ashok Taru presided over the gathering. He said, Hindus have been made second class citizens in Bangladesh. Whenever there is any problem, Hindus are persecuted. He said, what kind of freedom is this, where arbitrary teachers are disrespected?

At this time, Bhaktasangha president Shanti Ranjan Mondal, Mohan Sarkar and others gave speeches.