Bangladeshi Hindus in Montreal recently took out a rally in the Canadian city to show solidarity with ISKCON, the religious outfit that has been targeted by alleged Islamists in Bangladesh in recent times.

The protesters were heard shouting slogans to demand safety for Hindus in Bangladesh amid rising atrocities faced by the community members following the fall of the former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.

“Peace and fraternity. We want peace. We want justice. We want to bring an end to the ongoing violence on the minority Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. What is happening? Have you seen?” a member of the Bangladeshi diaspora told ANI.

A protester, while talking to ANI, said that fundamentalists have been let loose in the country, and are taking over institutions.

Neil Obermann, a Conservative Party candidate who had joined the protests,  said hate is not accepted anywhere.

“I’m here today because hate is not acceptable anywhere by anybody for any reason and what you see here today is strong community. I’m not from your community but I’m from a community that also suffers as a result of hate. Hate doesn’t help us and that’s why coming out, being strong, sending a message that we will not tolerate this is the only message. Every time I come out to an event I say the same thing. What happens to one community happens to another community. Be strong, stand tall and make sure people hear your voice,” he told ANI.

Bangladesh has been witnessing rising protests by Hindu community members ever since the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das over sedition charges.

Sheikh Hasina ouster

Bangladesh has been struggling for the past several months since a massive anti-job quota demonstration forced former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government to topple, ending her new term prematurely. She left the country amid a political crisis.

It is suspected that foreign hands were at play in orchestrating the unrest and planning her ouster.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus-led government took charge of the country just three days after Hasina exited the country. Yunus, known for his closeness to the US Democrats, also accepted later in an event in America that there was “design and conspiracy" involved in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.