Bangladesh unrest fallout: 10 million Hindus may take refuge in bordering Indian states

As the tension continues to mount in Bangladesh following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government causing unprecedented public unrest, the bordering Indian states may be impacted by the influx of at least 10 million Hindus into India.

Meanwhile, attacks on minorities including the members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh have rendered immense insecurity among these people and caused concern among the rights groups in the country.

Several BJP leaders have suggested that Hindu refugees may arrive in India and urged people to welcome them. Sensing trouble, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to all, particularly the political parties not to put up sensitive posts that could disrupt peace in Bengal.

BJP Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari on Aug 6, said the Indian government should be ready to accommodate them under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Notably, Bengal is home to a large number of Bangladeshi Hindu refugees, who entered the country in different waves. But CAA is a sensitive topic in the Northeast, whose history is defined by agitations against “outsiders”.

“Be prepared to receive one crore refugee Hindu brothers. The union government has already made arrangements under the CAA. The minorities in Bangladesh are unsafe and it was “clear” that Bangladesh’s 7% Hindus would leave,” said Adhikari.

Adhikari who met Amit Shah on Aug 6, said that Hindus were being mistreated in Bangladesh. The vast majority of Hindus in West Bengal are Bengali Hindus numbering around 55 million and comprising 60.2% of the state population of 91.35 million (2011).

BJP MLA and Matua leader Asim Sarkar termed the prevailing situation in Bangladesh unfortunate. “In such an unfortunate situation, Hindus who come to India should be given shelter here,” Sarkar said.

Mamata Banerjee Aug 6, said that she would back any stand the Centre may take on the issue. “If our brothers and sisters face some trouble in Bangladesh, the Indian government and the government of Bangladesh will look into it,” she said.

Pradyut Kishore Debbarma, senior Tripura leader, and BJP ally, has sought assurance from the Centre that any influx of Hindus from Bangladesh into India should be stopped.

Debbarma posted on social media that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured him that the borders were well-guarded, to prevent any “illegal” movement.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also said whenever there is a crisis in Bangladesh, Hindus come over to India. “We are watching the situation. Atrocities should be stopped,” he added.

BJP may be eyeing the Hindu vote, but the TMC has opposed the CAA as “discriminatory” towards both Hindus and Muslims as well as that of the minorities.

‘Minorities targeted’

Rights groups and diplomats in Bangladesh have expressed serious concerns over attacks on minority community members including the Hindus, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed following massive protests.

"Houses and shops of minority people were attacked, vandalised and looted in at least 97 such places on August 6 and 7," Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, said in a statement.

A Hindu man was beaten to death in Bangladesh's southern Bagerhat district, according to a hospital official, who wished anonymity due to safety concerns.

At least 10 Hindu temples were attacked by "miscreants" on Aug 6. Also, some businesses and homes owned by some Hindus and seen by some in the Muslim-majority nation as having been close to the ousted former leader were attacked on Aug 5.

Police reported mobs launching revenge attacks on Hasina's allies. Offices of Hasina's Awami League party were torched and looted across the country, AFP quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

"Such attacks on minorities are against the fundamental spirit of the anti-discrimination student movement," said Iftekharuzzaman, Transparency International Bangladesh head.

‘Assist fellow Indians’

Meanwhile, Sonu Sood, a Bollywood actor popular for his activism and philanthropy on August 7, urged people to assist fellow Indians trapped in Bangladesh. The 51-year-old actor emphasized people to come forward to help fellow countrymen in prevailing situation saying “it is not only the government's responsibility but the citizen's moral obligation as well to support fellow Indians in Bangladesh,”

‘19K Indian nationals in Bangladesh’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Aug 6, said that there are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh of which about 9,000 are students. Jaishankar gave an assurance that the government is in close contact with the Indian community in Dhaka.

Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that the bulk of the students returned to India in July.