In Bangladesh, the Hindu minority is facing the challenges, with a number of teachers being forced to give the resignation from their government positions because of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
At least 50 Hindu educators have been pressurised to give the resignatation. Although a list of these teachers has been obtained but the true number of those forced to resign could be much higher. One case involves Shukla Rani Halder, the principal of Bakerganj Government College in Barishal. On 29 August, a group of students and outsiders attacked her office, demanding her resignation, according to the media reports.
Halder was left with no option but to write “I resign” on a blank piece of paper. Similarly, on 18 August, around 50 students at Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College confronted principal Geetanjali Barua, demanding her resignation with assistant headteacher Gautam Chandra Paul and physical education teacher Shahnaza Akhter.
Before August 18, there had been no demands for her resignation. However, that morning, students entered her office forcefully and subjected her to humiliation. Similar incidents have been reported across the country. Videos circulating on social media show teachers and academic administrators being forced to sign the resignation letters while being surrounded by chanting and jeering students.
Hindu educators in Bangladesh are increasingly fearful and feel powerless. Shanjay Kumar Mukharjee, an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Governance Studies at Kabi Nazrul University, shared that he was forced to resign from his roles as Proctor and Head of the Department, highlighting the vulnerability of Hindu educators at this time.
The Bangladesh Chhatra Oikya Parishad, the student wing of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, condemned these actions in a press conference.
Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen criticized the military-backed Muhammad Yunus government for failing to protect minorities, pointing out the increasing violence and harassment against various groups in the country.
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