As Bangladesh grapples with political instability following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Hindu minority is contemplating the formation of a political party to safeguard its interests and secure representation in the country’s parliament.
With escalating concerns over safety and political disenfranchisement, Hindu community leaders are debating the most effective means to ensure their voices are heard in the nation’s political landscape.
The discussions, initiated by prominent figures from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) and other community organisations, revolve around three potential strategies.
"We are currently considering three main ideas: returning to the separate electorate system from 1954, creating a distinct political party for Hindus, or reserving parliamentary seats for minorities," Kajal Debnath, a presidium member of the BHBCOP said.
The impetus for these conversations stems from a recent surge in violence targeting the Hindu community, following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on 5th August amid a student-led movement.
Data compiled by the BHBCOP reveals that since then, there have been 2,010 reported incidents of violence against Hindus, including murders, physical assaults, attacks on temples, and the destruction of property.
However, these figures are not officially corroborated by the Bangladesh government, which has yet to release its own data on the matter.
Need for a political voice
The idea of forming a Hindu political party is gaining traction among some leaders within the community. Ranjan Karmakar, another prominent leader, acknowledged that discussions are ongoing.
"The conversations surrounding the creation of a political party for Hindus are a top priority. While no final decision has been made, we are exploring all avenues," Karmakar said.
He stressed that a dedicated political party could become a critical platform for advocating the community’s rights and ensuring that their concerns are represented at the highest levels of government.
Historically, Bangladesh's Hindu population constituted approximately 22 per cent of the country’s populace during the 1971 Liberation War. Today, however, Hindus account for just 8 per cent of the population.
Many within the community attribute this sharp decline to socio-political marginalisation and periodic outbreaks of violence, intensifying the urgency for political representation.
Risks of dividing the secular vote
Despite the growing calls for an independent political voice, not everyone within the Hindu leadership agrees that forming a party is the best solution. Kajal Debnath cautioned that such a move could divide the secular vote and weaken the overall political impact of minorities.
"The Hindu population in Bangladesh is not concentrated in any single area," Debnath said. "In some places, Hindus constitute 35 per cent of the electorate, but in most areas, it’s only 6 to 8 per cent.
Hindu leaders who won elections in the past did so by securing both Hindu votes and support from other communities, especially the Awami League.
But if they were to run as candidates of a Hindu party, they might lose that broader support, and the goal of gaining representation in Parliament would be undermined."
Debnath also noted that forming a separate Hindu party could alienate other secular voters and potentially reduce the overall political influence of the community.
Debate over reserved parliamentary seats
For many within the Hindu community, the idea of reserving parliamentary seats for minorities, similar to the system in place for women, presents a more feasible solution.
The concept of reserved seats for minorities is not new. Hindu leaders have long advocated for this approach, arguing that it would ensure the community has a platform to advocate for its rights and safety.
“If we had reserved seats in Parliament, our representatives could actively work to safeguard our security and preserve our cultural heritage,” Debnath said. “Without representation, we risk being marginalised in political discussions and left vulnerable to further attacks.”
The call for reserved seats is seen as a way to counter the historical neglect of the Hindu community by mainstream political parties, who, according to some leaders, have only engaged with minorities during election campaigns.
“Since 1971, the political discourse in Bangladesh has largely ignored the concerns of minorities,” said a BHBCOP presidium member, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and the Jatiya Party have all failed to address the needs of Hindu minorities, except when seeking votes.”
Political violence and the role of secularism
The secular stance of the Awami League has traditionally garnered significant support from the Hindu community. However, the recent wave of violence following Hasina’s departure from office has left many Hindus feeling betrayed.
Properties were destroyed, temples desecrated, and businesses vandalised in the aftermath, raising fears of further marginalisation.
Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the interim government, downplayed the severity of the attacks on Hindus, claiming that they were politically motivated rather than communal.
In an interview earlier this month, the Nobel laureate suggested that the violence stemmed from the political vacuum created by the ousting of the Awami League, which was perceived to have the support of most Hindus.
“This issue has several dimensions,” Yunus said. “When the country experienced upheaval due to the actions of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, those who were associated with them, including the Hindu community, also faced attacks. These were political in nature, not communal.”
A path forward?
While discussions over the formation of a Hindu political party continue, political analysts remain sceptical, Zillur Rehman, a prominent political analyst, questioned the feasibility of such a move, given the dominance of the BNP and Awami League in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
“The binary nature of politics in Bangladesh makes it difficult for a new party, especially one based on religion, to gain significant traction,” Rehman said. “However, the proposal for reserved seats in Parliament could be worth exploring, especially as the country re-evaluates its Constitution.”
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