Agartala, August 10: In response to ongoing violence against minorities in post-government Bangladesh, various organizations across Tripura took to the streets on Saturday, registering their protest and condemning the deteriorating situation in the neighboring country.
The Tripura Vidyarthi Sangathan, Hindu Nagarik Samaj, and multiple cultural activist forums have raised their voices against the purported violence that has erupted following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.
These protests were marked by a deep sense of solidarity with the affected communities in Bangladesh, as well as a strong condemnation of the incidents unfolding there.
At Kailashahar in Unakoti district, a joint platform comprising writers, musicians, and other cultural activists expressed their outrage at the vandalism of statues of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
A representative of the platform, echoing a verse by Tagore, lamented the state of affairs in Bangladesh, stating, “Tagore once wrote that seven crore people had become Bengalees but not human beings. This sentiment is painfully clear in the current situation in Bangladesh, where statues of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the liberator of the nation, and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore are being desecrated and vandalized. It’s disgraceful. I can’t comprehend what kind of student movement this is. We have united to protest these barbaric acts.”
The protest also highlighted the arson attack on musician Rahul Anand’s residence, the desecration of the Bangabandhu museum, and other violent acts.
In a poignant act of silent protest, participants donned black ribbons on their lips, symbolizing their deep anguish and opposition to the violence.
Meanwhile, in Agartala, the Tripura Vidyarthi Sangathan, a Hindutva-affiliated student body, organized a protest rally against the alleged violence targeting Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh.
They called on both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to collaborate on establishing international protocols that would ensure the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Further south, in Belonia, the Hindu Nagarik Samaj organized a significant protest against the alleged atrocities. The silent rally was attended by President’s awardee teachers, writers, and intellectuals from the area, who collectively voiced their opposition to the ongoing violence across the border.
The protests across Tripura have underscored the growing concern and solidarity among the people of the state regarding the unfolding crisis in Bangladesh.
The demonstrators have called for immediate action to address the situation and ensure the protection of minorities in the region.
