Demonstrations were held in more than 60 places across the country.
Dhaka:
Thousands of people belonging to minority religions rallied in cities across Bangladesh on Saturday to protest the serial attacks on Hindu temples and homes.
Demonstrations took place in more than 60 places across the country, including the capital Dhaka, as protesters vented anger over the anti-Hindu riots last week in which seven people were killed.
Rana Dasgupta, a leader of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist Christian Ekta Parishad, which organized the rallies, said, “The law enforcing agencies and the civil administration have completely failed to protect the minority people, especially the Hindu people.”
Dasgupta said the biggest protest took place in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s second largest city, where at least 15,000 people attended.
Another big rally took place in the Shahbagh area of central Dhaka where thousands of people had gathered.
Dasgupta said, “The purpose of these horrific attacks was to drive the minorities out of their homes as was done earlier.”
He said the protesters have submitted 11 demands to the authorities, including the formation of a judicial commission to probe the attacks.
Anti-Hindu riots broke out in many parts of the country after footage emerged of a Hindu deity placing the Quran on his knee during Durga Puja celebrations.
Hindus are about 10 percent of the population of Bangladesh. But the minority community in a country of 16.9 crore has often been the victim of communal violence.
Bangladesh police have said they have arrested around 500 suspects in connection with attacks on Hindu temples and other properties.
Among them is a Muslim who allegedly placed the Quran on the knee of a Hindu idol.
Officials said they have deployed additional security, including paramilitary border guards, to control any further disturbance.
High-speed mobile internet services were snapped last week to prevent the violence from spreading.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also met leaders of the Hindu community and promised strict action.
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