Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

There is no plan to change the national anthem of Bangladesh, the country’s Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain said on Saturday (September 7, 2024).

“The interim government will not do anything to create controversy,” Mr. Hossain told the media after visiting the Islamic Foundation in Rajshahi and attending a gathering of dignitaries.

This comes after Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, the son of former Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ghulam Azam, earlier this week called for a change in the country’s national anthem and Constitution.

He said: “I leave the matter of the national anthem to this government. The current national anthem we have is contrary to the existence of our independent Bangladesh. It reflects the time of the Bengal partition and the merging of the two Bengals. How can an anthem created to unite the two Bengals become the national anthem of an independent Bangladesh? This anthem was imposed on us by India in 1971. Many songs could serve as a national anthem. The government should form a new commission to select a new national anthem.”

Mr. Hossain said Bangladesh, as a neighbouring country, wants a friendly relationship with India.

“We have heard reports of attacks on our cricket team in India. Since the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in charge, they will decide on the necessary course of action,” Dhaka Tribune quoted the advisor as saying.

Terming attacks on mosques, temples, and shrines as “heinous”, Mr. Hossain said: “Those who attack places of worship are enemies of humanity. They are criminals, and they will be prosecuted under existing laws.”

Mr. Hossain further said local citizens as well as madrasa students will guard temples during the Durga Puja to prevent any attack or sabotage.

“Madrasa students were never involved in terrorism. That was propaganda and conspiracy by the previous government.”

The advisor said that after the change in government, there had been attacks on the houses of some members of the Hindu community just as Muslim houses were attacked and this should not be viewed differently.

Members of the minority Hindu community hold a protest against violence on minority community in the country, outside Jamuna State Guest House, where Bangladesh interim govt chief Muhammad Yunus is residing, in Dhaka.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Bangladesh’s newly-appointed Home Affairs Ministry adviser has vowed to take swift legal action against those who attack or abuse minorities, stressing that there is no place for violence, conflict, or hatred in the country.

Brigadier General (retd) M. Sakhawat Hussain’s assurance came during a meeting with a delegation from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh at his office in the Secretariat on Thursday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

What lies ahead for Bangladesh? | In Focus podcast

Bangladesh saw a spike in violence against members of Hindu communities following the fall of the government led by Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled to India on August 5 following massive protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Mr. Hussain emphasised that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony, where people of all religions have grown up together without any divisions.

He said that no one would be spared if they attacked or abused minorities, and swift legal action would be taken.

He said that there is no place for violence, conflict, or hatred and that the country believes in peace.

During the meeting, Satyaranjan Baroi, president of ISKCON Bangladesh, requested the adviser to take priority measures for the safety of minorities and presented eight proposals for ensuring their safety, including enacting laws, establishing monitoring cells, forming a Minority Commission and providing continuous state security for temples.

The adviser assured his full support for these matters.

The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance said that the minority community faced attacks and threats in 278 locations across 48 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5 and termed it as an “assault on the Hindu religion.” Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus who is heading the interim government on Tuesday reached out to the distressed Hindu community and urged them to “exercise patience” and assured them that his government would punish those who attacked the minority members.

On Monday, Hossain’s ministry set up a hotline asking people to provide information about attacks on temples, churches or any other religious institutions.

Over 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, taking the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A case of enforced disappearance was filed on Wednesday (August 14, 2024) against Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and several others, including former ministers of her Cabinet, on the charge of kidnapping a lawyer in 2015.

The case is the second to be filed against 76-year-old Hasina since she resigned and fled to India on August 5 following widespread protests against her Awami League-led government over a controversial job quota system.

The victim of the forced disappearance, Supreme Court lawyer Sohel Rana filed the case application, The Daily Star newspaper reported.

Also read: Thousands protest over Bangladesh’s ‘enforced disappearances’

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Farzana Shakila Sumu Chowdhury ordered the allegations to be accepted as a case.

Other accused in the case include senior ministers of Hasina’s Cabinet, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former Law Minister Anisul Haq, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shahidul Haque, former Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Benazir Ahmed, and 25 unidentified members of the RAB.

“On 10 February 2015, I was detained from Sector 5 in Uttara and forced into a vehicle. As soon as I was inside the car, I was nearly made unconscious by electric shocks to my ears and genitals,” the report quoted Mr. Rana as saying.

“After enduring various forms of brutal torture over time, I was eventually released in August in Godagari, Rajshahi,” he said.

On Tuesday, a murder case was lodged against Ms. Hasina and six others over the death of a grocery shop owner during last month’s violent clashes that led to the fall of her government.

Also read | Violence in Bangladesh after Hasina’s ouster stirs fear within Hindu minority in country

Over 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, taking the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.

An interim government was formed after the fall of the Hasina-led government, and its Chief Adviser, 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, announced the portfolios of his 16-member council of advisors last week.

The story so far: In a shocking turn of events, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled Dhaka on August 5, as protests in the capital escalated, with thousands of protestors soon entering the Prime Minister’s official residence. She is currently in India, considering asylum options in a third country.

Khaleda Zia, ex-Prime Minister and head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as well as imprisoned protestors have now been released. Nobel laureaute Mohammed Yunus will head an interim government, fulfilling a chief demand of the student protestors; he took oath on Thursday (August 8, 2024) along with 13 of his 16 member cabinet.

Also Read: Bangladesh protests updates

What started as a student protest over quotas accorded to freedom fighters in government jobs morphed into a protest against Ms. Hasina and the Awami League Party. Protestors demanded the resignation of Ms. Hasina as a single-point priority, while the government alleged that the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami were behind the agitation.

The BNP has been a dominant political force in the nation since it was founded in 1978. We take a look at the party as it stands today, its participation in the protests and its calls for Ms. Hasina’s resignation, alleging erosion of civil liberties under her regime.

What is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party?

The BNP was founded on September 1, 1978 by General Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, who was to later become president of Bangladesh, and a host of freedom fighters, including physician A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, lawyer Moudud Ahmed and politician Mashiur Rahman.

The BNP’s core tenet is Bangladeshi Nationalism, which it has defined on its website as “an ideology that recognizes the right of Bangladeshis from all walks of life, irrespective of their ethnicity, gender or race.” The party had adopted a 19-point programme for the foundation of a ‘New Bangladesh’ after the Liberation War of 1971.

Under the BNP’s rule, Bangladesh’s economy opened up and moved towards capitalism, from its previous socialist bent The BNP and its student wing also spearheaded protests against Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s martial rule in the late 1980s, which eventually resulted in the ouster of his regime in 1990, and the restoration of democracy in the country.

Begum Khaleda Zia has been serving as the chairperson of the party since 1983. Her oldest son Tarique Rahman serves as the senior vice-chairman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is the secretary-general. The body has an affiliated student wing— the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal, and an affiliated labour wing called the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal.

Political journey

The BNP saw early success after its formation. It won Presidential elections in 1978, and Gen. Ziaur became President. He launched economic reform and privatisation. In 1979, the BNP won 207 of 300 seats in the second election, coming to power with a solid majority.

However, Gen. Ziaur was killed by a group of army officers in 1981, and Abdus Sattar became the head of the BNP. Ziaur’s widow— 35-year-old Khaleda Zia, mother of two young sons and a political novice — took over as the party’s vice president.

Ms. Zia, however, proved her mettle quickly, rising to the rank of BNP President in 1989. In the 1991 elections, BNP emerged triumphant, and Begum Zia was elected as the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh. This also made her the second woman prime minister among all the Muslim-majority nations, after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto in 1988.

Ms. Zia followed through on economic reforms, further liberalising Bangladesh’s economy during her first term in the early 1990s. Ms. Zia was known for her determination, but her uncompromising attitude prevented her from making important deals with allies, both at home and abroad.

She was re-elected for a second term in 1996, in an election boycotted by the Awami League, which saw a paltry 21% voter turnout. There were growing demands for fresh elections, following which Ms. Zia’s government passed the thirteenth Amendment to the constitution, that allowed the creation of a neutral caretaker government to allow for peaceful transfer of power. Her term was short– after a mere 12 days, Ms. Zia resigned. She handed over the reins to a caretaker government headed by former Chief Justice Mohammad Habibur Rahman.

She ran for reelection but the BNP lost. It, however, came second to the Awami League in the polls and emerged as the largest opposition party in the history of Bangladesh’s Parliamentary elections, winning 116 seats.

In 2001, the BNP returned to power again in coalition with three Islamist parties, sweeping 215 seats. Ms. Zia returned for her second term as Prime Minister. This term however, was marked by turmoil. There was a series of Islamist attacks which undermined her regime. On August 17, 2005, 469 bomb blasts took place in 63 locations across Bangladesh, killing two and injuring more than a hundred. Another area of controversy was Ms. Zia’s reported patronage of Siddique ul-Islam alias Bangla Bhai pivotal in forming the militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Further, she created an anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion police unit, which came under heavy criticism for alleged extrajudicial killings.

Lastly, there were graft allegations against Ms. Zia and her sons, framed by the BNP as a politically motivated effort to expel Ms. Zia and her legacy from politics.

In January 2007, a political crisis led to an emergency rule by the military, which set up a caretaker government, headed by then-Army Chief Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed. This government launched a ‘fight against corruption’ and arrested both Ms. Hasina and Ms. Zia on allegations of bribery and corruption. After months of imprisonment with others of her family, Ms. Zia was released in September 2007.

In the 2008 election, the BNP and its allies won more than 40% of the vote, but lost to the Awami League, which got an absolute majority. The BNP only managed to secure 29 seats — a start of a fall from grace.

In 2009, Sheikh Hasina began her second term as Prime Minister with an absolute majority of 263 seats— the start of a 15-year rule over Bangladesh.

Battle of the Begums

The feud between Ms. Zia and Ms. Hasina is well-known, and called the “Battle of Begums” in Bangladesh, with “begum” being an honorific used in South Asia among the Muslim community for powerful women. The feud dates back to 1975, with its roots in the murder of Ms. Hasina’s father — Bangladesh’s ‘founding father’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — along with her mother, three brothers and many other relatives in a military coup.

It was Ms. Zia’s husband Ziaur Rahman who was the then deputy army chief, and who effectively took control of the government three months later.

Notably, Ms. Zia and Ms. Hasina fought shoulder to shoulder to push Ershad out in a wave of protests in 1990 and then faced off in Bangladesh’s first free polls. Ms. Zia won and led from 1991-96, and again in 2001-2006, as she and Ms. Hasina alternated in power.

Their feud carried on well after Ms Hasina came to power– even in personal life. When Ms. Zia’s youngest son died due to a heart attack in Malaysia in 2015, Ms. Hasina visited her home to offer her condolences. But Ms. Zia would not even open the door.

Boycott of elections and current status

The BNP did not have representation in the Parliament after it boycotted the national elections of 2014, calling them a farce. The elections that year were marked by very low turnout.

Ahead of the 2018 elections, Ms. Zia was sentenced to a five-year jail term, which was later extended to 10 years. In February 2018, she was sentenced to 17 years in prison for two graft cases. She was placed under house arrest since March 25, 2020, following a conditional release sanctioned during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was not allowed to leave her house in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, where she took up residence after the Hasina government cancelled the allotment of her late husband’s palatial house in the Cantonment area in 2010.

Due to her conviction, Ms. Zia was barred from contesting polls, as the Constitution prohibits the participation of a convicted person sentenced to over two years in prison. Mr. Rahman, her son, led the BNP from exile in London. But he, too, was convicted in absentia in Bangladesh and sentenced to life imprisonment over his alleged participation in a bomb attack on a 2004 Hasina rally.

In October 2023, the 17-doctor panel treating Ms Zia claimed she was at “high risk” of dying without urgent medical intervention abroad. She was, however, denied permission to leave the country by the Hasina government.

The BNP boycotted the next national elections as well, which were held on January 7, 2024. The BNP leaders dubbed the polls fake and engaged in an anti-government movement through a “peaceful public engagement programme,” which included several strikes. The ensuing elections saw a fall in voter turnout — from over 80% five years ago to 40%— and a return of Sheikh Hasina, yet again, to the Premier’s post.

The BNP has been vocal about its belief that Ms. Hasina has caused a severe curtailing of democracy in the nation. In an interview with The Hindu last year, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, part of the BNP’s standing committee, said: “India should support the people of Bangladesh in the same way that it supported us in 1971. Today, the people of Bangladesh are living without their right to a transparent election. As a citizen of my country, I hope India will not stay silent in the face of erosion of democracy in Bangladesh.”

Now, too, senior BNP leaders have emphasised the importance of ties between India and Bangladesh, but also expressed that it was “natural to evoke adverse reaction” in Bangladesh that India had given refuse to Ms. Hasina.

“It would have been better had she not fled to India, as we are yearning to have good relations with India. Bangladesh and its people believe and see India as a friend,” BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo said to PTI..

Role in current protests

The key issue at the centre of the storm that led to Ms. Hasina’s eventual downfall was an unpopular quota system for government jobs, which was introduced by Sheik Mujibur Rahman soon after Bangladesh attained freedom. More than 50% of government jobs in the country were reserved for different sections of society, with 30% being set aside for the descendants of freedom fighters. Ms. Hasina removed the quota following protests in 2018. But in June 2024, the Bangladesh High Court reinstated this old quota system, triggering an outcry from students. Protests first sprung up on university campuses, and later spread across the country.

After the first round of protests, the Bangladesh Supreme Court curtailed the quota system, setting the reservation cap for the descendants of freedom fighters at 5%. But the fire had been stoked.

Ms. Hasina’s actions to tackle the protests did not aid her cause. She had called the protesters ‘razakars’, a denigrating term used for those Bangladeshis who had helped Pakistani troops during the Liberation War. She also deployed excessive force in her effort to quell the uprising.

On August 4, a new round of protests was launched by the students with a single, forceful demand — Sheikh Hasina must go. The protestors also sought accountability for the deaths of over 200 of their comrades. 

Dhaka, a megacity of 10 million people, was set for a major standoff between student protesters, backed by the BNP and Jamaat, and the security personnel and Awami League activists. It was following this major protest that Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the nation.

The road ahead

Now, the interim government headed by Mr. Yunus will be in power till the next steps for the nation become clearer. President Mohammed Shahbuddin dissolved parliament and announced that the country will soon have a general election. 

Mr. Yunus will be advised by 16 individuals, chosen after consultation with the student protestors and civil society. The Cabinet members are: Saleh Uddin Ahmed, Asif Nazrul, Adilur Rahman Khan, Hasan Arif, Tauhid Hossain, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Brig. Gen. (Retd) M. Sakhawat Hossain, Supradip Chakma, Farida Akhtar, Bidhan Ranjan Roy, A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, Nurjahan Begum, Sharmin Murshid, Md. Nahid Islam (students’ representative), Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan (students’ representative) and Farooqui Azam.

Notably, no representative from the Awami League was at the swearing-in ceremony.

Ms. Zia has been released. She is at present in poor health, confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and dealing with diabetes, heart problems and liver cirrhosis. Reports say that her son Tarique Rahman is expected to return to Bangladesh now.

As the nation undergoes a political transformation, it remains unclear what role the BNP will play. But with Ms. Hasina temporarily out of the picture, the resurgence of BNP remains a distinct possibility.

Dhaka:

Day after protests in Bangaldesh forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as the prime minister, students have now targeted the Supreme Court and are demanding the resignation of all judges, including the Chief Justice.

Hundreds of protesters, largely comprising students, have surrounded the Bangladesh Supreme Court, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Justice. The situation escalated rapidly, with reports suggesting the Chief Justice may have fled the premises.

The protests were sparked by a full-court meeting called by the Chief Justice without consulting the newly formed interim government. Student protestors alleged that the judges of the court are part of a conspiracy, prompting outrage and demands for accountability.

As tensions mounted, the scheduled full-court meeting was abruptly called off. Protestors, undeterred, continued to besiege the Supreme Court, giving the Chief Justice a one-hour ultimatum to step down.

Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has agreed to resign “in principle” after an ultimatum to do so from protesters, broadcaster Jamuna TV reported. He was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted premier Sheikh Hasina

The fresh protests come days after a student-led uprising against government hiring rules resulted in Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus taking charge of a caretaker government.

At least 450 people were killed in more than a month of deadly protests that ended the autocratic rule of 76-year-old prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina faces allegations of murder, forced disappearance, money laundering and corruption, and must face the law, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party said.

Hasina, one of Asia’s longest-serving leaders, resigned and fled Bangladesh on August 5 under pressure from millions of protesters who had taken to the streets for weeks to demand she step down.

An interim government was appointed in Bangladesh Thursday, led by Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. Under the constitution, an election needs to be called within 90 days, although Yunus, the military – which backs the interim government – and the president haven’t commented on when elections will be held.

Bangladeshi Army officers stand guard at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Several residents across Bangladesh spent a sleepless night as they gathered in groups to guard the streets amid fears of robbery and looting by criminals in the violence-hit country, where an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is all set to take oath on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

Also read: BSF stops entry of 120 people from Bangladesh

Security concerns have gripped the country since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster on Monday as police observed a work abstention, citing fears for their safety amid reports of deadly attacks on security personnel.

Follow Bangladesh crisis LIVE Updates here

The Yunus-led interim government – appointed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin who had dissolved the parliament – is set to take oath in the evening after weeks of tumultuous student protests that forced Hasina to resign and flee the country.

The chaos and fear created by the deadly protests remained. Gangs of criminals have been looting and robbing homes in the absence of law enforcers over the last two days.

Many residents spent a sleepless night on Wednesday amid fears of robbery and looting. From one end of Dhaka to another, particularly Uttara to Mohammadpur, people were concerned about their safety.

Facebook users were posting in different groups and streaming live. Residents in many areas, including in Uttara and Mohammadpur, formed neighbourhood watch groups to stand guard, bdnews24.com news portal reported.

Nazvi Islam, a part-time teacher at Dhaka University and resident of Mohammadpur’s Bosila, said that robbers had terrorised the area on Tuesday night. Mosques were regularly making announcements, asking everyone to remain on alert.

On Wednesday night, residents gathered in groups to guard the streets with sticks and bats. Hundreds of students from the local madrasa also came to guard the area. After standing watch all night, they returned home in the morning. The students divided themselves into small groups and guarded the government buildings and public properties.

Zakirul Islam, a resident of Chanmia Housing in Mohammadpur, said guards were posted at the gates to the housing area on Wednesday night, but residents still could not sleep due to fear.

Abir Hossain, a resident of Mirpur-14, where many government officials live, says that everyone panicked when news spread that robbers had entered their housing complex.

“Last night, a group of people carrying local weapons came and attacked a neighbouring house. They forcefully opened the main gate and looted cash and jewellery,” The Daily Star newspaper quoted a resident of the Naboday Housing area as saying.

Many Facebook users posted or live-streamed videos of robbers attacking a building in the ECB Chattar area adjacent to the Mirpur cantonment. Sounds of Army patron sirens could be heard in the videos.

People posted on Facebook about the attacks and robberies throughout the night. Many have questioned where so many robbers had sprung up from.

Most ATMs were out of cash and even many bank branches were running low on cash as the money supply had been disrupted due to inadequate security, The Daily Star reported, citing bankers.

“Overall, I visited almost 10 booths but failed to withdraw a single penny. Either they had run out of money or restricted the use of ATM cards issued by other banks,” Nasir Hossain, a resident of the capital’s Dhanmondi area, was quoted as saying by the paper.

Managing Director of Pubali Bank Mohammad Ali said although there is no cash crisis in the banking sector, they have been unable to deliver money to booths and branches as security companies that transport money have halted services.

“The security agencies that carry our cash told us that they will not provide services in the current situation,” he said.

Hence, banks are struggling to supply money, especially to remote branches and booths, he added.

Meanwhile, political parties in the country discussed the structure of the interim Cabinet.

The anti-discrimination student movement has reportedly prepared a list of 15 names in the interim government. The list will be finalised after discussions with Yunus after he returns home on Thursday. According to multiple sources in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the leaders of the student movement met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday and discussed the list.

The anti-discrimination student movement has formed a liaison committee to discuss the list with various parties.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus gestures while speaking to the media upon arriving at Charles de Gaulle’s airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

“Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, will take oath on Thursday (August 8, 2024),” Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday (August 8, 2024), General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the interim government is likely to be sworn in at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

Bangladesh crisis live updates – August 7

He also said the advisory council may have 15 members.

Yunus, the 84-year-old economist, on Tuesday (August 6, 2024), was appointed as the head of interim government by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

People gather in front of the ransacked Awami League’s central office in the aftermath of the prime minister’s resignation, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Rights groups and diplomats in Bangladesh on Tuesday raised concerns at reports of attacks on minorities including Hindus, a day after the prime minister was ousted following mass protests.

Some businesses and homes owned by Hindus — a group seen by some in the Muslim-majority nation as having been close to ousted leader Sheikh Hasina — were attacked on Monday, witnesses said.

Police reported mobs launching revenge attacks on Hasina’s allies. Offices of Hasina’s Awami League party were torched and looted across the country, eyewitnesses told AFP.

“Houses and shops of minority people were attacked, vandalised and looted, at least 97 places on Monday and Tuesday,” Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, said in a statement.

The group said at least 10 Hindu temples were attacked by “miscreants” on Monday.

One Hindu man was beaten to death in Bangladesh’s southern Bagerhat district, said a hospital official who requested anonymity due to safety concerns.

“Such attacks on minorities are against the fundamental spirit of the anti-discrimination student movement,” said Transparency International Bangladesh head Iftekharuzzaman, who uses one name.

The United States embassy in Dhaka called for “calm”, in a post on social media platform X.

“We are concerned about reports of attacks on religious minorities and religious sites in Bangladesh,” it said, a message echoed by European Union diplomats.

EU heads of mission “are very concerned about incoming reports of multiple attacks against places of worship and members of religious, ethnic and other minorities in Bangladesh”, EU ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley posted on X.

“We urgently appeal to all parties to exercise restraint, reject communal violence and uphold the human rights of all Bangladeshis.”

Monday was the deadliest day of unrest since protests erupted in early July, with at least 122 people killed.

Some homes of the Ahmadis, a minority Muslim sect, were also torched by a mob on Monday, a local newspaper reported.

The house of celebrated Hindu musician Rahul Ananda – who last year met French President Emmanuel Macron when he visited Dhaka – was also torched.

Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday also said New Delhi was “monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities”.

He added that the government would “remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored”.