Yunus to finally meet Bangla minority leaders today

Dhaka: Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, will hold a meeting with the leaders of the country’s minority communities in Dhaka on Tuesday following continuing attacks and acts of vandalism, especially against Hindus, being reported from throughout the country since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5.

Addressing mediapersons in Dhaka on Monday, Abul Fayez Muhammad Khalid Hossain, a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar currently serving as the Advisor for Religious Affairs in the Yunus-led interim government, said that the current establishment believes in communal harmony and condemns the attack on minorities. Local media reported that, in the media briefing that took place at the Secretariat building on Monday afternoon, Hossain asserted that the attacks on minority communities were done by “miscreants” and the interim government will take action against them.

The advisor promised that miscreants will be punished and a hotline will be launched later on Monday for people to report any attack on anyone’s home. Hossain also mentioned that a list of destroyed houses and temples is being prepared and financial assistance will be given to the victims. On Sunday, the interim government’s Home Affairs Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain apologised to the country’s minority Hindu community for having failed to provide them protection as violence engulfed the country.