Bangladesh Eight Point Demand: A coalition representing Bangladesh's minority communities demonstrated on the streets of capital Dhaka on Friday, demanding that the country's interim government accept their eight-point demand to ensure the safety and well-being of minorities in light of the recent political turmoil.

The alliance made this demand at a massive rally organised near the historical Dhaka landmark of Central Shaheed Minar. Thousands of people belonging to minority communities from all over Bangladesh gathered at the site.

Renowned spiritual leaders from various temples and monasteries across the country, especially from Dhaka and Chittagong, university students, leaders of minority communities, citizens from various professions attended the rally.

The Bangladesh Combined Minority Alliance, which organised the rally ahead of Durga Puja, said that minority communities have been facing atrocities, including arson, vandalism, looting, forced occupation, murder, rape, threats of exile, and extrajudicial killings under the guise of mob justice ever since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's government.

The Awami League leader fled to India on August 5 and an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in weeks later in Bangladesh. The interim government maintains that the attacks faced by religious minorities, including Bangladeshi Hindus, in the aftermath of Hasina's ouster were not religious but political in nature.

BANGLADESH MINORITIES EIGHT-POINT DEMAND: WHAT ARE THEY SEEKING?

1. Formation of a "Neutral Investigation Commission", followed by the establishment and effective functioning of a "Fact-track Trial Tribunal" to provide swift and appropriate punishment to the perpetrators of atrocities on minority communities, along with adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the victims.

2. Enactment of a "Minority Protection Act".

3. Formation of a "Ministry of Minority Affairs".

4. Upgradation of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a "Hindu Foundation". The eight-point demand calls for the same move to be implemented for the Buddhist and Christian religious welfare trusts as well.

5. Enactment of a "Law for the Recovery and Preservation of Endowed Property" and proper implementation of the "Vested Property Return Act".

6. Construction of "Places of Worship" for minority students at all public and private universities, university colleges, and higher education institutions, and allocation of prayer rooms in every hostel

7. Modernization of the "Sanskrit and Pali Education Board".

8. Declaration of a 5-day public holiday for Durga Puja festivities. Provision of necessary leave for the major religious festivals of each minority community.

(With inputs from ANI)