New York Times Calls Anti-Hindu Violence In Bangladesh ‘Revenge Attacks’, Makes Amend After Facing Flak

The New York Times on Thursday drew widespread ire after it called the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh post former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s exit “revenge attacks”.

After being called out on various platforms by people across the globe, the US media house changed its headline.

Some people also pointed out that no apology or explanation was released by the media firm.

Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the Tamil political weekly magazine Thuglak and a pro-Hindu voice, also called out the New York Times.

Attacks on Hindus

Hundreds of Hindu houses, businesses, and temples have been vandalised following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid the unrest over the controversial quota system reserving 30% of jobs for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.

India has voiced concerns about the incident, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that “what was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses, and temples also came under attack at multiple locations.”

India has evacuated all non-essential staff and their families from its embassy and consulates in Bangladesh, two Indian government sources told Reuters.

All Indian diplomats remain in Bangladesh and the missions are functional, the report said. Besides the high commission or embassy in the capital Dhaka, India has assistant high commissions or consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

Amid the political unrest, an Air India flight from Dhaka carrying 199 passengers and six infants landed in Delhi early on Wednesday morning, ANI reported.

According to sources quoted by ANI, Air India operated the special charter flight at short notice despite infrastructure challenges at Dhaka Airport late last night.

Hindus constitute about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people and have historically largely supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes a hardline Islamist party.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) said 200-300 mainly Hindu homes and businesses had been vandalised since Monday, and 15-20 Hindu temples damaged. Up to 40 people have been injured though not seriously, its general secretary, Rana Dasgupta, said.

Global Voices Calling Out Attacks On Minorities

Several global leaders have called out attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Ro Khanna, an American politician and lawyer serving as the US representative from California, took to X saying, “Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. It’s good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence.”