Protest in downtown Toronto over violence against Hindus in Bangladesh

Thousands of Canadians protested in downtown Toronto on Sunday to show solidarity against the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Canadians of Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish origin gathered in downtown Toronto.

The protest held in downtown Toronto saw people chanting, “We want justice – Bangladesh Bangladesh”.

#Watch | Toronto, Canada: More than a thousand Canadians of Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish origin protested in downtown Toronto to show solidarity with Bangladeshi Hindus and urged the Canadian government to pressure the interim Bangladesh government to protect Hindus in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/tADPoKxYQM

– ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2024

The protesters urged the Canadian government to put pressure on the Dhaka government for the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.

One protester lamented that they also sent emails to Bangladeshi mosques in Toronto, but they have not yet responded.

he/she said, “We have also sent emails to Bangladeshi mosques in Toronto. So far we have not received any reply from them, maybe we will get a reply, maybe they are busy due to the weekend.” he/she further said, “Whatever is happening in Bangladesh is happening to their own brothers…”

The protester further said that the community has gathered in unprecedented numbers, which is a good sign.

he/she stressed, “We would be happy if they also stand in solidarity. The community is here in unprecedented numbers which is a good sign. What is disappointing is that Canadian politics is involved in this. Even after emails, tweets and calls, they are not listening to us…”

Furthermore, community leaders expressed their concern over the attacks on Hindus.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also in a message on Thursday called for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on assuming his/her new responsibility. We hope that normalcy will be restored soon, ensuring the safety of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to meet the shared aspirations of the people of the two countries for peace, security and development,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus are fleeing to neighbouring India to escape the violence.

Hindus, who constitute about 8 percent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have traditionally supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which has faced severe criticism after violent clashes between anti-reservation protesters and security forces last month.