Hindu singer's house burnt, temples vandalized; Quota reform protest morphs into Hindu pogrom

DHAKA: The riots and plundering are spiralling out of control in Bangladesh. Despite the prime minister's exile from the country, the riots are showing no signs of stopping. On the third day after Sheikh Hasina’s exit from the country, the rioters have now put their focus on Hindu minorities to unleash their wrath.

The home of famous Hindu folk singer Rahul Ananda in Bangladesh was looted and put on fire by a group of miscreants. It is reported that Rahul fled the house with his wife and son, to avoid getting caught by the angry mob.

Rahul Ananda founded ‘Joler Gaan’, a popular folk song band in Bangladesh. Rahul's residence at 32 Dhanmondi in Dhaka was vandalized and looted by the protestors.

“By 4 pm the gang reached the house searching for him. They vandalized the house and conducted a loot. I still don’t know how Rahul da and Shakuntala di escaped with their son” said Rahul’s friend Saiful Islam Jernel.

In 2023, France President Emmanuel Macron visited Rahul’s residence in a good gesture. And just one year after the visit, the assailants ransacked the singer's house and stole around 3000 musical instruments. It is reported that more than 50 leaders of the Awami League have been murdered in the riots across the country.

About eight per cent of the country's total population of 17 crores are Hindus. Most of the minorities are loyal to the Awami League which has given a reason for the Hindu pogrom, now going out of control in the country.