Bangladesh Hindus celebrate biggest festival despite fear of attacks: Video
The Hindu community in Bangladesh came out in large numbers to celebrate Durga Puja, the largest Hindu festival, despite ongoing fears of violence against the minority group.
This year's Durga Puja, which took place from October 9 to October 13, saw heightened security measures in place as devotees gathered for celebrations, according to AFP reports.
Since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Hindu population has faced a series of targeted attacks in the Muslim-majority country.
However, Hindu devotees, amid the spate of attacks stepped out in large numbers on the culmination of the festival.
"We no longer feel any fear. Whatever concerns we had are now gone. There is nothing left to fear," said Kumar Mondal, a 50-year-old devotee, reflecting a sentiment of cautious relief among the celebrants.
For some, like 29-year-old music teacher Mitu Ghosh, initial fears remained. "We were celebrating the Puja with some apprehension, wondering what might happen at any moment. However, things are going well now. While there have been some incidents of vandalism that make us a bit sad, we are still celebrating the Puja," she said.
Jibon Chandra Pal, a 55-year-old Bangladeshi expatriate, shared a similar sentiment. "There was an incident in the Tanti Bazar neighbourhood in Dhaka on Friday, but it was a mugging, nothing too serious. The way we are celebrating now is what matters most," he said, noting that the anticipated violence did not occur.
Hindus make up approximately 8% of Bangladesh's 170 million population, translating to around 13 million people, making Hinduism the second-largest religion in the country after Islam.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate, has been criticised for not doing enough to protect the Hindu minority. Reports suggest that hardline Islamist groups have gained increasing political influence and visibility since the fall of Hasina, raising concerns about the safety of the Hindu community.
