The Muslim Consumers’ Rights Council on Tuesday organized a rally in Bangladesh’s Bangshal area advocating for a boycott of restaurants that do not serve beef, according to a report by the Dhaka Tribune.
Protesters called for mandatory inclusion of beef dishes on restaurant menus and warned of potential closures for establishments that fail to comply.
The council argued that certain restaurants avoid serving beef, allegedly aligning with ideologies contrary to Muslim consumer preferences.
Muhammad Arif Al Khabir, the council’s convener, told the Dhaka Tribune that beef serves as a symbol of Islamic identity. He also criticized Western nations for not accommodating halal food in their restaurants, which he described as a double standard.
The rally comes amid heightened communal tensions in Bangladesh. Authorities have reported 88 incidents of violence targeting minorities, primarily Hindus, since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
According to interim government head Muhammad Yunus’ press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, 70 individuals have been arrested in connection with these incidents.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri recently visited Bangladesh and discussed the attacks on minorities with Bangladeshi leaders. He underscored India’s concerns over the safety and welfare of minority communities in the neighbouring country, urging measures to ensure their protection
