A letter seeking profiling of the Hindu officers working with the Bangladesh Government has created a sense of fear and panic amongst the minority community in the country, which witnessed months-long chaos that led to the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On 27 August, the Personnel Department of the President of Bangladesh issued directions to all ministries and autonomous institutions to provide the list of Joint Secretary level Hindus working in the government by 2 September 2024.
Two days later, the Ministry of Cotton and Jute also directed departments and institutions under it to do the needful in this regard. It caused panic amid reports of discrimination and targeting of Hindus following the ouster of Hasina. Hundreds were killed in the violence and many Hindu temples were also vandalised.
However, some reports said it was a clerical error that caused confusion and the information was sought concerning an annual Durga Puja event hosted by the President.
Meanwhile, Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) of Bangladesh has sought intervention from the United Nations with the caretaker government in the country against the racial profiling.
“Seeking the list of only Hindu officers by the President of Bangladesh is nothing but an act of racial profiling of the Hindus by the Government of Bangladesh for the purpose of specific targeting of minorities based on their religious belief. There is a genuine fear that senior officers belonging to the Hindu minorities will be targeted and they have been effectively silenced. This violates the UN human rights laws relating to racial discrimination and the rights of the minorities and a fit case for the UN Rapporteurs to intervene.”- Suhas Chakma, Director, the Rights and Risks Analysis Group, was quoted as saying.