Followers of the minority Hindu religion in Bangladesh on Monday (August 26, 2024) held prayers and processions. This is the biggest Hindu festival since 2024. Downfall of Sheikh Hasina The government had said this earlier this month.
Kirtans and Gita Yagnas were organised in temples in Dhaka and other cities and thousands of Hindus were seen visiting temples and offering prayers.
The mood of this festival, which is a public holiday in Dhaka, was set by the chief adviser. interim government Bangladesh Prof. mohammad yunusWho came on TV for the national address on Sunday (August 25, 2024) evening and assured that the citizens of Bangladesh No discrimination on the basis of religion or political belief,
Besides the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka, celebrations were reported from Chittagong, Rangpur and other areas of Bangladesh, although floods in the eastern districts of Brahmanbaria, Comilla and Feni dampened the festive spirit.
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At several places, celebration committees promised financial aid to flood-affected areas in the eastern region. At several celebration sites, representatives of cadres of the largest opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party were seen helping in organisational work.
The celebration of Shri Krishna Janmashtami came twenty-one days after the departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during which there were reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh. However, the spirit of brotherhood generated by Prof. Yunus’ speech was marred in the evening when a large group of student protesters, the major political group in post-Hasina Bangladesh, clashed with personnel of the paramilitary force Ansar.
Ansar members were protesting to demand regularisation of their services. According to various accounts, around six million members of the Ansar group were employed during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
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Later on Sunday (August 25, 2024) night, the students held a press meeting in which they accused the Ansar group of being pro-Hasina and accused Indian authorities and Ms. Hasina of inciting the paramilitary forces to attack.
On the other hand, Professor Yunus has urged all sections of Bangladeshi society to avoid holding protests to press for their demands and requested pressure groups to submit written statements to resolve the problems.