Muhammad Yunus Assures Safety to Minorities During Historic Dhakeshwari Temple Visit

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus promised safety and unity for Bangladesh's minority communities while visiting Dhakeshwari Temple. Yunus urged communities to view themselves solely as Bangladeshis deserving of equal rights, addressing concerns over violence and emphasizing the need for institutional reforms to resolve underlying tensions.

Nobel laureate and interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus visited the historic Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka on Tuesday, where he assured Bangladesh's minority communities of their safety and security.

"Rights are equal for everyone. We are all one people with one right. Do not make any distinctions among us. Please, assist us. Exercise patience, and later judge -- what we were able to do and not. If we fail, then criticise us," Yunus told the Daily Star. He emphasized that democratic aspirations should transcend religious identities, stating, "In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements. That is why, such issues arise. Institutional arrangements need to be fixed."

During his visit, Yunus met with the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, and temple management officials. Accompanied by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain, Yunus also urged the Hindu community to consider themselves integral constituents of Bangladesh. "You simply say that you are human, a citizen of Bangladesh, and this is your constitutional right that must be ensured. Just demand this, nothing more," Yunus stressed.

His visit culminated in a significant meeting between Muslim and Hindu community representatives, fostering open dialogue and mutual understanding. They assured each other that any attempts to harm the Hindu minority would be legally addressed. Hindu community members expressed the need for unity, noting, "There would be no caste difference between Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians. We are one people, one life. We all have come together in one Bangladesh. We will live together."

However, lingering concerns from the Hindu community were voiced, highlighting recent protests against violence targeting their community in Bangladesh and abroad. Prof Yunus's outreach aimed to calm frayed nerves, but the community underscored the need for tangible actions against crime. Protests over the issue have recently been reported not only in Bangladesh but also in cities like Toronto and London.