Widespread attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh on polling day

Dhaka:  In the wake of widespread attacks on Hindus in the country, Bangladesh has decided to set up special tribunals to punish perpetrators of violence against the minority community. Culprits may be tried under the Terrorism Prevention Act - the Law Ministry has consulted the Supreme Court on the matter.

Not a single Hindu died on or around polling day, but houses were allegedly torched, vandalised and looted allegedly by activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that boycotted the polls.

In one of the worst-affected Hindu villages - Malopara in the Abhaynagar area of Jessore district -houses were vandalised and looted on Sunday and many swam across a nearby river to save their lives during a vicious attack by Jamaat men, angry that the Hindus had dared to vote despite their warnings.

A young woman with a child in her arms said, "They came with stones and started throwing them at us. We hid in boats and went up and down the river all day and night."

Another woman said, "We can't stay in our houses at night. If there is some police, then we can risk it."

The police set up camp soon after and tried to restore some kind of normalcy.

"Jamaat-Shibir men won't dare create trouble in Jessore anymore. Not just in Malopara, anywhere. Even then people are traumatised, terrorised. That is true," said Joydeb Bhadra, Superintendent of Police, Jessore district.

But the situation remains tense in Jessore, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts. No minority life was lost - except one man who reportedly died of a heart attack when Jamaat activists set fire to his house in Joypurhat - but the Bangladesh government will have to work very hard to restore confidence in the Hindu community.

Courtesy:ndtv dot com

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Dhaka Failed to Prevent Attacks on Hindus: Rights Panel

By IANS - DHAKA

Published: 08th January 2014 11:49 PM

Last Updated: 08th January 2014 11:49 PM

The Bangladesh government failed to prevent attacks on the minority Hindu community after the Jan 5 parliamentary elections, the National Human Rights Commission said Wednesday.

"The minorities are being tortured across the country. The state and government are responsible for securing their lives and property," bdnews24.com quoted commission chairman Mizanur Rahman as saying.

"The government is yet to take any effective step," he said.

Houses of Hindus were attacked, torched and ransacked in various places, including Jessore and Dinajpur districts, after the elections, the commission said in a report.

Rahman asked the government to give exemplary punishment to those committing atrocities.

He said a presiding officer was killed in the presence of security personnel during the elections, and voters and minorities were being tortured.

Thousands of people now want to cross the border in search of safety, he stressed.

"The government is giving us hope but failing to prove its mettle. If the failure persists, secular Bangladesh will be in danger," Rahman said.

The human rights panel chief appealed to everyone to resist the communal violence.

Mired in controversy, the elections were held in just 147 out of 300 seats in 59 out of 64 districts of the country.

Some 21 parties, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotted the polls over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's refusal to introduce a non-party interim government to oversee the elections.

Courtesy:newindianexpress dot com

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Bangladesh to Form Tribunals to Probe Attacks on Hindus

In the wake of widespread attacks on Hindus in the country, Bangladesh today decided to set up special tribunals under an anti-terror law to punish the perpetrators of violence aimed at the minority community.

"A process has been initiated to constitute tribunals to try them (culprits) under the Terrorism Prevention Act," Shafique Ahmed, prime minister's law affairs adviser, told PTI.

The Law Ministry took the initiative to constitute the tribunals in consultation with the Supreme Court.

Talking to PTI, Home Secretary C Q Moshtaque said several dozens of suspects behind the attacks carried out since the January 5 polls had been detained.

Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh troops were kept in place despite the end of their poll duties to prevent fresh attacks, he said.

"You have seen, we have withdrawn several deputy commissioners (district administrative heads) and police superintendents for their failure to tackle attackers," Moshtaque said.

Government-sponsored social committees were revived to protect religious minorities and district administrations were asked to reach out to the Hindus to give them moral support even in places where no violence was reported, he said.

Suspected opposition activists attacked Hindus at several places during and after the polls, accusing the minority community of backing the Awami League which swept the election following a boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council reported that government actions and social protection initiatives worked well in the most troubled western Jessore district and several northwestern districts like Dinajpur. But it said it had received reports of fresh attacks from Chittagong and Nagerhat.

"They torched two temples at Nagerhat and vandalised three Hindu homes at Fatikchhari last night," Unity Council leader Kajol Debnath said.

The Council issued a charter of seven demands, asking the government to try killers in fast track courts, to rebuild damaged temples and homes and to compensate Hindus for their losses due to the violence.

The mass circulation Prothom Alo reported that one Hindu died in panic of a heart attack after some persons torched hay in his backyard in Joypurhat yesterday.

The report said a section of people were trying to settle personal disputes with Hindus or extort the minority community by taking advantage of the situation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier promised stern action against attackers. A number of professional and rights groups and youth organisations yesterday staged demonstrations and formed human chains to protest attacks on Hindus.
Courtesy:news dot outlookindia dot com

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Hindu temple in Bangladesh vandalised

AP Bangladeshi policemen sit in a vehicle as they leave to patrol the streets early in the morning in Dhaka on Wednesday. A Hindu temple was vandalised and set afire in central Bangladesh on Wednesday, as post poll attacks on the minority community continue unabated. 

 

A portion of the Kali Temple in Netrakona district was gutted when unidentified persons set fire to it early on Wednesday morning.

A Hindu temple was vandalised and set afire in central Bangladesh on Wednesday, as post poll attacks on the minority community continue unabated.

A portion of the Kali Temple in Netrakona district was gutted when unidentified persons set fire to it early this morning, a top police official said.

Locals managed to douse the fire after 45 minutes, The Daily Star newspaper reported quoting Delwar Hossain, the district’s additional superintendent of police.

The incident came a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to arrest all those involved in the recent attacks on the minority community.

Attacks were launched on houses and businesses of Hindus in several districts including Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat and Jessore since Bangladesh went to polls on January 5.

Meanwhile, police arrested a Jamaat—e—Islami leader from northern Bogra district for his alleged involvement in sabotage in different areas.

Superintendent of police Mojammel Haque said they also arrested 11 Jamaat activists from the district on charges of anti—national activities. 

Courtesy:thehindu dot com

 

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