Bangladesh, a neighboring country of India, has formed an interim government with Mohammad Yunus at its helm. The new government includes 16 other members, each assigned specific responsibilities. Among them, Abul Fayyaz Khalid Hussain is receiving considerable attention. In Yunus’s interim government, Hussain has been appointed as the Minister of Religious Affairs, despite being known as a prominent extremist in Bangladesh.
The timing of Hussain’s appointment has raised questions. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Yunus on the formation of the interim government and appealed for the protection of Hindus and other minorities. Nonetheless, Yunus’s government has given a significant role to Khalid Hussain, signaling a possible leaning towards extremism.
Violence Against Hindus
Since the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Islamic extremists have been targeting Hindus in Bangladesh. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that there have been reports of vandalism in temples and attacks on the Hindu community.
Who is Khalid Hussain?
In Yunus’s interim government, AFM Khalid Hussain has also been appointed as an advisor. He is an Islamic extremist and a Deobandi scholar associated with the group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, which has a history of adopting an anti-Hindu and anti-India stance. The organization aims to transform Bangladesh into a state similar to Afghanistan and has actively advocated for the implementation of extremist Islam in the country. Hussain has served as the vice president of this organization.
Decline in Hindu Population in Bangladesh
In recent years, there has been a continuous decline in the Hindu population in Bangladesh. In 1951, Hindus comprised approximately 22% of the population, but by 2011, this had reduced to just 8.54%.