Dhaka, Jan 10 (IANS): Leaders of the ruling Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have come together to protect the minority Hindu community in Gaibandha district.

Houses of Hindus were attacked, torched and ransacked in various places of the country after the Jan 5 general elections.

Several homes and business establishments of Hindus were targeted in Kuptala, bdnews24.com reported Friday.

The BNP and Awami League leaders of the area agreed to jointly provide security to the Hindu community, the report said.

Hindus in the district's Sundargang, Sadullyapur, Palashbari and Govindaganj areas are now reportedly living in fear.

The joint meeting of the Awami League and BNP was presided by a local leader, Mojibor Rahman.

"The leaders of the two parties have agreed to live peacefully, shunning all sorts of violence," bdnews24.com quoted Rahman as saying.

Awami League's Zeyad Ali said: "Leaders and activists of both parties have agreed to work together to maintain communal harmony."

Faizar Rahman, BNP chief of the area, said: "We want to assure the minorities that such incidents will not recur."

The National Human Rights Commission Wednesday said the Bangladesh government has failed to prevent attacks on Hindus after the elections.