২০০১ সালের দুর্গাপূজা সনাতন ধর্মাবলম্বীরা বয়কট করেছিল, কেন Durga Puja 2001 Boycott

The year 2001 is etched in the collective memory of the Bangladeshi Hindu community as one of darkness and despair. Following the rise to power of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, a wave of brutal attacks against the Hindu population unfolded, with extremists seizing the opportunity to target this minority community. What followed was a systematic pattern of violence, abductions, and atrocities, particularly during the month of October, a time when Hindus across Bangladesh would typically be preparing for Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival for Bengali Hindus. Instead, many were forced to boycott the celebrations out of fear for their lives.

he Rise of Persecution in 2001

The BNP's return to power in October 2001 brought with it an unsettling rise in attacks on Hindus across Bangladesh. Right-wing Islamic extremists, emboldened by the political change, began targeting Hindus as "soft targets." This period marked an intensification of anti-Hindu sentiments that had been simmering for years. Hindu families were often accused of supporting the opposition Awami League, leading to violence and retribution that was ignored or even encouraged by elements within the ruling BNP.

Reports of daily violence, arson, looting, sexual assaults, and forced evictions flooded in from across the country. The perpetrators, often linked to radical Islamist groups, acted with impunity, knowing that the political climate offered them protection. Hindus were left vulnerable, with little to no recourse or protection from law enforcement. In some cases, even members of the police force were complicit, making it virtually impossible for victims to seek justice.

A Boycott of Durga Puja

Durga Puja, a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, took on a different meaning in 2001 for Bangladesh’s Hindu population. With attacks increasing daily, many Hindus were forced to cancel or drastically scale back their Puja celebrations. Temples were attacked, idols of the Goddess Durga desecrated, and Hindu families terrorized. For a community already living in fear, the festival that typically brought joy and unity became a grim reminder of their vulnerability.

While Puja is usually a time for Hindus to gather with their families and celebrate their faith, in 2001, many temples remained empty, and families stayed hidden inside their homes, fearing further attacks. The violence had spread so rapidly and so viciously that the usual sense of festive spirit was replaced by silence, broken only by the sound of destruction and violence in many regions.

Purnima Rani Shil: A Face of Tragedy

One of the most horrifying examples of the brutality faced by Hindus during this period was the gang-rape of a young ninth-grade student, Purnima Rani Shil. Purnima was only 14 years old when she became a victim of the ongoing violence. Islamic extremists abducted and assaulted her, an act of horrific violence that sent shockwaves through the community.

Sadly, Purnima's case was not an isolated incident. Numerous reports of sexual violence against Hindu women surfaced during this time. Rape was used as a weapon of terror, designed to humiliate and intimidate the Hindu community into submission. Despite the outcry from human rights organizations and activists, justice for many of the victims, including Purnima, was delayed or denied entirely, further highlighting the lawlessness and impunity enjoyed by the attackers.

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