‘Don’t call yourself a Hindu, call yourself ...’: Bangladesh’s Yunus tells minority community

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus recently urged members of the Hindu community to see themselves as citizens of Bangladesh first, rather than as a religious minority, saying such an approach would foster inclusivity and unity.

“My message to them, when I meet community leaders, is don’t go back and say, ‘I’m a Hindu, so protect me. Always say, ‘I’m a citizen of this country. I’m entitled to all the protection the state is supposed to give me.’ Then you have broader coverage,” Yunus said during an interview with US journalist Mehdi Hasan last month.

The Bangladesh interim leader also noted that Hindus in Bangladesh should not feel “isolated” and should claim their rights as full citizens. “Always say, I am a citizen of this country. I’m entitled to all the protection the state i