Hindu prayer services raise money for Bangladeshi victims of attacks

 
Young children joined in the prayers for victims in Bangladesh

Hindu prayer services were held in Bromley-by-Bow to raise money for victims of attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority following the country’s recent election.

Children as young as three added their voices to the recital of verses from holy Hindu scripture, The Bhagavad Gita as the congregation demanded safety and security for the victims.
The services at Kingsley Hall last week, part of a series of events across Britain, began with the Narayan Puja, a prayer to the deity Vishnu.
The Aarti was also recited, a prayer to remove darkness and give relief to the suffering.
Ajanta Deb Roy, co-organiser of the event, said: “These events should happen more, because in Bangladesh they are targeting minority people, and this shows that not everyone is involved in the violence.
“People from all faiths have showed their support.”
The January 5 election in Bangladesh was boycotted by main opposition parties, and saw the re-election of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League in a record low turnout.
A bloody period of political turmoil has seen more than 300 people killed since the beginning of last year.

source:eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk

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The Hindus are the sons of Bangladesh soil

By Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman

It seems be came the fate of religious minority, especially the members of Hindu community, who take birth in the soil of Bangladesh and are living here from generation to generation that Hindus fell prey to casualties. When the country faces hard time of a political crisis or a change, the the Hindu community, becomes the target of minority persecution by the So-called Islamist terrorist organizations.
When it goes under a electioneering process, parliament or local governments, as if it is the destine of the Hindus that they will lose their lives, their women will be raped, their houses would be ransacked and destroyed, business establishments and shops will be looted and touched into ashes, their mondirs and temples will be damaged and put on fire, and their property, houses or agricultural lands would be grabbed by the lootera Muslim criminal organization Jamaate Islami and its terrorist student wing Chhatra Shibir, Popularly known as Gestapo Bahini. BNP (the so-called Bangladesh Nationalist Party) was always with them.
We have been observing since 1947 when India was divided into Pakistan & Hindustan on the basis of Jinnah's two nation theory, that means Muslim majority areas will be made Pakistan (name should be Muslimstan) and Hindu majority areas Hindustan. Minority persecution happened in 1947, in 1962, 64, and 1971 when we were in the war of liberation, again after the assassination of country's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, we saw in 1992 when the fundamentalist Hindus destroyed Babri Mosque in Uttar Prodesh, India, the fundamentalist Muslims destroyed 247 Mondirs in different places of Bangladesh and its capital Dhaka.
It has happened after the election of 2001 and last January 5, 2014. But can any body deny that Hindus and other religious minority Buddist, Christian’s are the sons of this soil. Still I remember my village, my childhood. It was a remote village of Chandpur district where half of the year was remaining under the rainy season and we used to go to school by boat together, play together, even we the boys both Muslims and Hindus of our village used to masticating sugarcane sitting on the boat and enjoy each others family & religious festivals. We took part in our war of liberation together. Of course none of us ever has forgotten our own religious belief and obligations.
We believe that the religion is personal and the state belongs to every body, it should not be mixed with our Political and state life. Still I remember my friend Priya, Jagadish, Dulal, Santosh, Ranajit, Badal, Shomvo, Gandhi and many others whom I can not remember now. I don't know where they are, how they are? I know only Priya and Dulal left Bangladesh in sixties were settled in Kolkata, India (Dulal died two years back). Priya lives a Posh life there, but I saw him crying for motherland.
The panic and horror I saw in sixties on their face & eyes at the time of communal riots in 1964 and Pakistan India war in 1965 were seen during the last January 5 election. I sow the same horror in the eyes of Hindus in different parts of the country published on the front page of news papers and the main bulletins of the television channels. Main two Prime reasons behind this act of terror are (1) our neighboring country is Hindu majority Hindustan or India and BNP and its alley Jamaat consider Hindus are the enemy of the country (2) Hindus Prefer to vote for AL (Awami League) as it is a secular non-communal political party. So they suffer if vote for, even do not. This time it happened in Jessore, Khulna, Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Pabna, Satkhira, Ovoynagar, Dinajpur, panchagarh, Chittagong, Baushkhali, Shitakunda, Laksmipur, Chandpur and other places of the Country. We saw hundreds of thousands of Hindus left their places for life leaving their houses, lands, Business, Valuable etc behind.
Following the parliament election held on October 2001, Nation saw with sorrows and panic that the BNP and its terrorist alley Jamaat & shibir led by Begum Khaleda Zia tried to observed their victory celebration through the heinous act of ethnic cleansing. We have been seeing this for last 66 years (1947-2014) and the Hindus became weaker and weaker financially and numerically. Exodus of Hindus to the neighboring India is a known fact for us, but fact remains we didn't do anything to stop it.
Irony is that the party which claiming to be the Nationalist and its leader Begum Khaleda Zia who Claimed herself uncompromising? Is she responsible for these communal attacks? Khaleda Zia herself ordered terrorist to come down on the street with Petrol Bomb, lathel weapon. We saw in may 5, 2013 in the time of Hifazat gathering around Shapla Chattar that she ordered her party activities to join the Hefazat and help (?) them when Hefazat started damaging the road dividers, tourching the book shops including the Holy Qurran and Hadith (S) selling shops and other road side hawkers shops and the party office of Awami league and CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) aiming at they wanted to free their leaders now facing capital punishment by international war crime tribunals by creating Lawless in the Country. It also wanted to create a Tahier squire in Dhaka to achieve their target, particularly at the time of the execution of Jamaat leader Kader Molla, popularly known as `Mirpur's Kashai' BNP's target was to reduce the percentage of Hindu votes, popularly known as AL's vote bank. Because AL is a non-communal, democratic and secular political party and it believes in Bengali Nationalism.
All are still very lively in my mind. The fears I saw among them during Pakistan-India war and riots in 60s, such fears were seen in face-eyes of Hindus of different regions after the recent elections (Jatiya Sangsad 2014). There are two prime reasons of it-our neighbour India is a country of Hindu majority. So Hindus will have to be identified as ‘enemy’ (?), second Hindus like Awami League as secular political party, . . . so general impression is they are giving vote for AL even do not, they become victim.
The executive director of ‘Broti’ Sharmin Murshid in a TV talk-show said anyone having black colour on finger was tortured. Thousands of Hindus were forced to take shelter in other places to save life. The road of Abhainagor is like the ‘71’s Jessore Road which became important in September 1971 when millions used it as a highway to life defying natural calamities to evade Pakistani atrocities. They fall prey to killing-torture in the same way after 2001 October elections. They naturally became weak economically because their land-property, businesses were looted-grabbed gradually over the last 66 years (1947-2014). Moreover, this time only they are realising what an inhuman life they are maintaining in the prevailing cold weather after leaving their houses in the face of torture. This time it has been cleared who are launching such attacks—Jamaat-Shibir is committing such inhuman crimes against humanity under the protection of Begum Khaleda zia, who is now populary call Amir-e-Hajabi (Hafarzat+Jamat+BNP). Their target is to save Jamaat leaders who are under-trial or facing death sentences for their war-time crimes and BNP’s target is to reduce vote of Awami League. Jamaat dreams to create Egypt’s Brotherhood’s Tahrir Square like movement; create mass upsurge. But it is Bangladsesh, they also realize it. So they launch attacks on Hindus who are minority and weak socially and financially. It is our national shame that we could not save them. Although, it was possible to resist criminals if steps would have been taken. Because, it did not happen all of a sudden or all over the country, such attacks, killings, torture-repression have started from the day the court began to hand down verdicts on war crimes cases, it was very beginning of last year. But it seems that the administration was enjoying daydream.
Thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and conveying her gratitude on be half of the citizens of the state, she does not sleep if everyone remains asleep, as if she is responsible for whole things only. In 1964, Bangabandhu resisted the riot launching a campaign styled “Purbabangla stand against riot”. During that time the government was unfavorable, because Ayub's Military Junta was in power. This time government is different. It was needed to remain alert and take precautionary measures. Nonetheless, Iqbalur Rahim M.P of Dinajpur was found trying to resist it. Such people are allover the country but why they were asleep? For getting party nomination, they take to the street wearing white clothes (such clothes are used to wrap up dead body of a Muslim for burial), chant slogan by hiring people on payment ‘ . . . brother go ahead, we are with you’ and now trying to be minister.

source:asiantribune.com

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PM Hasina Warns Bangladeshis Against Attacking Hindus

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today warned Bangladeshis against attacking the minority Hindu community, saying such assaults could have repercussions in neighbouring India.

"Don’t forget that Muslims are the minority in India. So, if you attack Hindus here (Bangladesh), minority Muslims may be attacked in India," she told a rally in south-western Satkhira district.

"People of all religious faiths would continue to enjoy equal rights in Bangladesh...I want to warn you not to break the peace of the people, otherwise you have to pay for it."

Satkhira witnessed widespread violence, with minority Hindus being major victims, ahead of the controversial January 5 polls that were swept by Hasina's Awami League after the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the general election.

Hasina, who visited Satkhira during her first tour outside Dhaka since the re-election of the Awami League, said operations by paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh and police will continue in the region to track down those responsible for violence.

"The culprits involved in killing people and destroying their homes and business establishments will be tracked down wherever they take shelter," she said, accusing the BNP’s main ally, the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami, of spearheading the attacks.

Security forces were deployed in Satkhira, a Jamaat stronghold, on December 15.

The High Court had on January 15 directed the government to take adequate steps for the security of Hindus. It asked authorities to submit a report on damage caused by recent attacks on the minority community.

The Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council (HBCUC), a major forum of minority communities, welcomed the order and acknowledged that the new government had given "due importance" to the issue, but reiterated its demand that perpetrators of violence should be tried by special fast track courts.

A report by HBCUC said since the election schedule was announced on November 25, a total of 495 Hindu homes were damaged, 585 shops were attacked or looted and 169 temples were damaged.

"During this period, nearly 2,500 Hindu families were affected," HNCUC leader Rana Dasgupta told PTI.

A police report stated that losses of Hindu property and resources during January 5-12 were worth Taka 28 lakh.

According to the 2012 census, Hindus make up 8.4 per cent of Bangladesh's population of 150 million.

source:news dot outlookindia dot com

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Hindu Temple Attacked in Bangladesh

Idols of Hindu goddesses were destroyed when unidentified persons attacked a temple in southwestern Bangladesh today, police said.

The attackers ripped off the heads of the idols and threw them in the courtyard of the temple in Pirojpur district, Bdnews24 reported.

The idols were found smashed and destroyed this morning, a devotee was quoted as saying by the media.

A probe to find those responsible for the attack is already underway, said police official A Khalek.

"The attackers will be found and punished," Mrinal Kanti Dey, chief executive of Nazirpur sub-district, told Bdnews24.

The attack on the temple was the latest in a string of incidents against the Hindu minority.

Suspected opposition activists attacked Hindus in several districts during and after the January 5 polls, accusing them of backing the Awami League which swept the polls following a boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

source:news. dot outlookindia dot com

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Hindu Farmer Murdered in Bangladesh, Houses Burnt

By IANS - DHAKA

Published: 12th January 2014 04:43 PM

Last Updated: 12th January 2014 04:44 PM

A Hindu farmer was stabbed to death while his wife and relative were injured Sunday by a masked assailant in Natore district of Bangladesh.
In a separate incident, the rioters Saturday tried to burn two Hindu houses in Jhalokathi's Nolchiti area. The fire damaged a temple in one of the houses, reported bdnews24.com.
Police said Haripad Mondol, 50, and his wife Bishaka Rani, 45, were attacked in their house in Bagdome Mondolparha area.
Mondol died on his way to a hospital while Rani was admitted to the hospital.
The assailant also stabbed Mita Rani, Mondol's niece.
Md Ibrahim, officer-in-charge of Barhaigram police station, said police were trying to ascertain the motive behind the murder.
Meanwhile, Dilip Shil of Abhoynil village said he saw the temple's terrace on fire in Jhalokathi's Nolchiti area.
A.F.M. Anwar Hossain, district assistant Superintendent of police, told bdnews24.com that Abhoynil and Fulhori villages were also attacked Saturday in separate incidents.
Meanwhile, families of two Hindu women in Jessore, who were reportedly raped during the riots after the parliamentary elections Jan 5 in the country, have fled their village after filing a case with police.
On Jan 7, rioters attacked the Hindus at Hajrail village in the district. A family member of one of the women said that the rioters broke their door and asked if they participated in the polls.

courtesy:newindianexpress dot com

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String of Attacks Rattles Bangladesh's Hindus

Bangladesh's Hindus have been rattled by a string of attacks linked to the recent controversial general election, with leaders of the minority community saying such violence can be stopped only if the government takes stern action against perpetrators.

Activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami were blamed for attacks on the Hindus, who were accused of backing the Awami League which won the January 5 polls despite a boycott by the opposition.

The activists torched, vandalised and looted homes, shops and businesses establishments of Hindus in the northwestern districts of Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon and at Noapara in western Jessore district, which was the worst affected area.

According to statistics from the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council (HBCUC), 485 households and 578 shops owned by Hindus in 32 districts were vandalised since the election schedule was announced on November 25. During this period, 152 temples were also damaged.

"It appeared that the state has failed to take adequate steps to protect the minority community," said Mizanur Rahman Khan, chairman of the statutory Bangladesh Human Rights Commission.

Hindu community leaders have cautiously welcomed government actions to prevent attacks on minorities, including a decision last week to set up special tribunals under an anti-terror law to punish those responsible for violence.

"We see the situation is improving with no major attacks or intimidation if Hindus in the past two days thanks to growing social resistance and government action," Kajal Debnath, presidium member of the HBCUC, told PTI.

But the community leaders feared the improvement could be a short-lived phenomenon if culprits were not brought to justice quickly and given stern punishment like life sentence.

"The most important deterrent could be making a provision under which lawmakers of a (violence-affected) constituency will be held liable along with ensuring the accountability of the local administration and police for any attacks or intimidation," Debnath said.

Information Minister Hassanul Haq Inu reiterated the government’s "zero tolerance" policy for communal intimidation as announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He told PTI that steps were being taken for "stern punitive actions" against culprits.
"But first of all, let me tell you this is not any communal violence. The attacks were carried out with a political motive to create instability and affect our relations with regional nations," Inu said.

He said dozens of culprits had been detained as part of a massive clampdown and the situation would improve further after the new Awami League government assumes office.

Lawmakers would go their respective areas and oversee an anti-communal campaign after the government is installed.

The HBCUC staged a nationwide black flag protest over the attacks yesterday, with the main protest held in Dhaka, where activists demanded the enactment of tougher laws to prosecute culprits in fast tracks courts and compensate victims.

Hundreds of youths carrying banners of the Ganojagaran Mancha or "mass upsurge movement" joined a march towards Jessore, where Hindus were the worst victims of violence.

Government officials said the attacks on Hindus would be categorised as acts of "terrorism".

Shafique Ahmed, the Prime Minister's law affairs adviser, said a process has been initiated to try the culprits under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

The Law Ministry has already taken the initiative of forming tribunals in consultation with the Supreme Court.

Home Secretary C Q Moshtaque said the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh was kept in place despite the end of their election duties to asked to prevent fresh attacks on Hindus.

Action had also been taken against several deputy commissioners and police superintendents for their failure to prevent attacks, he said.

Government-sponsored social committees had been revived to protect minorities and the districts administrations were asked to reach out to Hindus to give them moral support.

The mass circulation Prothom Alo reported that one Hindu died in panic of a heart attack after some persons set on fire hay stashed in his backyard in northwestern Joypurhat.

Premier Sheikh Hasina blamed her arch-rival BNP chief Khaleda Zia for the violence. She promised strict action against the culprits, saying: "Everyone responsible for attacks on the minority community will face stern punishment."

In many places, opposition activists attacked both Hindus and supporters of the AL for defying an opposition call to boycott the polls which the BNP described as "farcical".

But the BNP said in a statement that attacks on Hindus were being carried out at the government's instigation to divert people's attention from massive criticism of the polls.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who issued the statement, asked opposition leaders and activists to take effective steps to protect minorities.

Minorities account for 9.7 per cent of Bangladesh's population of 150 million and, according to the last census, Hindus make up about 8.4 per cent of the populace.

courtesy:news dot outlookindia dot com

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B’desh EC Asks Authorities to Prevent Attacks on Hindus

Bangladesh's Election Commission today directed law enforcement agencies to tighten security across the country to prevent attacks on minorities, specially Hindus.

"We have asked the law enforcement agencies to specially resist attacks on minority communities in different parts of the country in the wake of the January 5 parliamentary election," said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.

Ahmad issued the order during a meeting with security agencies on maintaining law and order during re-polling in eight constituencies on January 16.

The law enforcers were well prepared to prevent such attacks, he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.

Members of the minority community were attacked by workers of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its right-wing ally Jamaat-e-Islami in Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Jessore districts both before and after the polls.

Reports said Hindus were targeted by opposition activists for backing the Awami League which swept the polls following a boycott by the BNP-led opposition alliance.

The opposition activists torched, vandalised and looted homes, businesses establishments and shops of Hindus.

On Tuesday, unidentified men raped two Hindu women at gun point in front of their relatives for casting their votes in Jessore, The Daily Star reported.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised stern action against those responsible for attacks on minorities. She yesterday blamed her arch-rival BNP chief Khaleda Zia for the violence against Hindus.

The government decided this week to set up special tribunals under an anti-terror law to punish the perpetrators of violence against Hindus.

Courtesy:news dot outlookindia dot com

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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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Bangladesh Parties Join Hands to Protect Hindus

By IANS - DHAKA

Published: 10th January 2014 05:07 PM

Last Updated: 10th January 2014 05:07 PM

• Photos

• 
  Hindus in the district's Sundargang, Sadullyapur, Palashbari and Govindaganj areas are now reportedly living in fear | File/AP

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

Courtesy:newindianexpress 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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BJP concerned over violence against Hindus in Bangladesh

The BJP on Wednesday expressed concern over the reports of violence against Hindus in the neighbouring Bangladesh.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley in a statement issued in New Delhi said, “The post-election violence has started attacking the minority Hindu community. Houses have been burnt and individuals are being attacked. The already insecure Hindu minority is being threatened further. Media reports suggest that most of these attacks have taken place at the behest of the Jamat-e-Islami and even the BNP.”

Referring to the shrinking Hindu population in the adjoining nation and the similarity in the situation being faced by the community in Pakistan, Mr. Jaitley said: “It is noteworthy that the Hindu population, which was around 30 per cent at the time of Independence is currently between 10 to 12 per cent as per the recent estimates.”

He said a disturbed neighbourhood adversely affects India and in some cases the consequences spill into Indian boundaries. “One had hoped that elections in Bangladesh would enhance the democratic process there. As the nation which had supported Bangladesh at the time of their liberation struggle, India, which has thousands of kilometres of borders with Bangladesh, would like to see a peaceful poll accompanied by continuation or transfer of power. It has not happened. We hope that the political process in Bangladesh stabilises and important political parties are in a position to settle their domestic political issues,” Mr. Jaitley said.

The position of the Hindu minorities in Pakistan “is a little worse” he said, adding in recent times thousands have had to migrate to India. “On my visits to places like Indore, Ajmer and other towns of Punjab, many of these groups have met me. Even in Delhi the Hindu migrants from Pakistan have been meeting political leaders and explaining to them the plight of the minorities in Pakistan,” he said urging the Centre to take note.

Courtesy:thehindu 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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Hindus Attacked in Bangladesh, Police Detain Jamaat Activists

Bangladesh police Tuesday detained two Jamaat-e-Islami activists for their suspected involvement in attacking Hindus and filed cases in this connection in Jessore and Dinajpur districts.

Emdad Hossain, officer-in-charge of Abhoynagar police station, said at least 250 people were involved in attacking the houses of the minority Hindu community in Maloparha and Chapatola villages in Jessore district Sunday, reported bdnews24.com.

Rioters vandalised and looted more than 50 Hindu houses in Maloparha.

A temporary police camp has been set up in the area, said Reshma Sharmin, assistant superintendent of police.

Police blamed the Jamaat and its students wing Islami Chhatra Shibir for the attacks.

Awami League leader Ranjit Roy, who was elected from Jessore-4 constituency, alleged that Jamaat activists had carried out the attacks.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders alleged that police were blaming the 18-party opposition alliance in order to harass them.

Police also detained five people for attacking houses and shops of Hindus at Kornai village in Dinajpur district.

Police filed a case against 215 people in connection with the incident, said Altaf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station.

More than 100 houses and shops belonging to Hindu were vandalised and set on fire at Kornai village.

Meanwhile, the BNP-led 18-party opposition Tuesday extended its strike till 6 p.m. Wednesday demanding cancellation of the 10th parliamentary polls results and calling for fresh elections under a non-party caretaker government.

Earlier, the opposition had called for a 48-hour strike starting from Monday morning.

Source:newindianexpress dot com

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Hasina Slams Attacks on Hindus in Poll-Related Violence

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today condemned attacks on Bangladesh's minority Hindu community in post-poll violence and promised stern action against the perpetrators.

"Everyone responsible for the attacks on the minority community will face stern punishment. I have never compromised with terrorism," Hasina told a meeting of her victorious Awami League-led alliance that swept Sunday's general election after a boycott by opposition parties.

She said the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh, anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion and police have launched a massive campaign to track down those responsible for attacks in the western and north-western areas.

Hasina accused main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally, fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami, of intimidating Hindus on the grounds that they are perceived as traditional supporters of her Awami League.

"The attack on the minority community indicates that the character of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami remains unchanged," she said.

Her comments came amid fresh reports of intimidation of Hindus in northwestern Panchagarh, where miscreants vandalised some shops owned by Hindus and torched a house.

The worst attacks were reported from western Jessore on election day, when suspected opposition activists vandalised 130 Hindu homes and torched another 10 in Malopara village as the minority community went to cast votes in defiance of the boycott called by the opposition.

Police said 70 to 80 men attacked Malopara but security forces immediately rushed to the scene. The activists threatened Hindus with dire consequences for voting, sparking panic and prompting the army's intervention.

Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council member Kajal Debnath said in northwestern Dinajpur that 153 Hindu families had their shops and homes vandalised.

According to media reports, Hindus were also attacked in Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Thakurgaon in the same region.

"We demand army action to protect our community in troubled areas alongside the other law enforcement agencies, but interventions of all political parties and intellectuals is the most crucial necessity at the moment for their protection," Debnath said.

Courtesy:news dot outlookindia dot com

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​B’desh Hindu leaders demand more protection for minorities

Dhaka: Human rights groups and Hindu leaders in Bangladesh today demanded more security for religious minorities amid reports that members of the community were attacked in several parts of the country during elections.

Activists of main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its key-ally fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami attacked Hindu households in western Jessore and northwestern Dinajpur, local media reports said.
The Daily Star and several other newspapers said the activists vandalised 130 Hindu houses and torched another 10 in Malopara village as they went to cast votes defying the opposition call for the boycott.
Police, however, said 70 to 80 men attacked the  village but joint forces comprising police and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh chased them away.
The activists threatened the Hindus of dire consequence for voting, sparking panic and prompting the army “striking forces” intervention.

“We were on election duty. In spite of that we rushed here to protect the villagers,” Maj Rahman last night said, adding that a temporary police camp was installed at the area.

“Some 400 Hindus were forced to flee their homes and take refuge on the other side of the local Bhairab river fearing fresh attacks,” Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddho-Cristian Oikya Parishad vice president Kajal Debnath told PTI.
Other reports said Hindus came under attack also at Pornia area in northwestern Dinajpur overnight where the opposition activists severely assaulted 10 elderly people of the community and vandalised over 10 houses for defying their calls for election boycott.
But army intervened, forcing the activists to flee.

“We demand intensified protection…we don’t want to be traded off politically or used for anybody’s political purpose,” Debnath told PTI in an apparent reference to a perception that the Hindus were traditionally supporters of Awami League, which pursue a policy of secularism.

He added: “Keep me (Hindus) beyond (political) focus, I don’t want to be a victim.”
According to media reports, only a small number of Hindus cast their votes in north-western Lalmonirhat and southwestern Satkhira either fearing attacks by opposition activists.
They said most of the Hindu villagers were annoyed with the government for not taking adequate steps for their protection during earlier such attacks in recent months when the opposition spearheaded anti-government campaigns.
The five persons, missing since January three, were suspected to have been killed due to a land dispute and buried in a freshly dug pit.
courtesy:freepressjournal dot in

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Construction of Hindu crematorium in Buntong to start next month

Current site: The Hindu burial ground at the Indian Settlement in Jalan Madras currently has a small building to burn the dead. The state government plans to replace this with the RM1.3mil public crematorium, which only needs a space of about 0.1 ha land for its construction. — filepic

THE construction work of a RM1.3mil Hindu crematorium in Buntong is expected to start next month.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir’s special officer C. Sivarraajh said the tender had been awarded to a reliable contractor.
He said plans had also been submitted to the Ipoh City Council.
Sivarraajh said Devastana Paripalana Sabha, the association overseeing the project, held a meeting with the state’s Economic Planning Unit (Upen) last week.
Sivarraajh, who is the MIC Youth chief, said if all goes well, work would start by January or latest February.
“There has been a slight delay of the project because the equipment is being imported from China.
“The funds, paperwork and other necessary works have all been finalised, and I will personally monitor the progress, since I stood as a candidate in Buntong at the last General Election,” Sivarraajh said last Wednesday.
It is learned that the crematorium would be sited near the Buntong Hindu cemetery.
Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam had said in August that the state government had in 2012, allocated RM1.3mil to the association to build the crematorium but work had yet to begin.
He had claimed that the association had received warnings for misappropriation of funds and should not be given the responsibility for a public project.
He added that the Public Works Department should handle the project instead.

Courtesy:thestar. dot com

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8 Awami activists get death for murder of Hindu man

Eight student activists of the ruling Awami League were sentenced to death and 13 others were given life terms on Wednesday by a fast-track court in Dhaka for hacking to death a Hindu man during a nationwide strike in 2012.

“They (the eight) will be hanged to death,” pronounced tribunal-4 judge A.B.M. Nizamul Haque at the packed courtroom as six convicts appeared in the dock.

During the 10-minute proceedings of the day, the court observed that Biswajit Das’ murder case is quite different from the others. It took place in the broad daylight instead of night which was heinous and deplorable killing, the court said.

Two other death penalty convicts and 11 of the 13, who were awarded the life term, were tried in absentia as they were on the run to evade punishment.

Under the Bangladeshi law, the High Court must review death penalties even if the convicts do not appeal against the lower court’s verdicts.

The Chhatra League activists hacked to death the 24-year-old tailor on the street in Old Dhaka’s Bahadur Shah Park area on December 9, 2012 during the opposition enforced blockade. The incident was captured live on television cameras.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) is the student front of the Awami League.

Sutrapur police filed a murder case in this regard on the same day. On June 2, 2013 charges were framed against the 21 Chhatra League activists. The murder drew flack on the ruling Awami League.

Reacting to the verdict, Mr. Das’s brother said, “I am satisfied...we got justice.” 

Courtesy:thehindu dot com

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Jamaat-Shibir men defy joint patrol, chase Hindus

Panic haunts around 600 families belonging to the Hindu community at eight villages of Bawra and Jongra unions in Patgram upazila under the district as Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir launched several attacks on the minority community during the last two months.
Lastly on Sunday midnight, Parapukur Mandir, a heritage temple at Shafinagar village of Bawra union was attacked and six idols of gods and goddesses were vandalised there, during the countrywide hartal called by Jamaat.
Joint forces started patrolling the areas on Monday night but the minority people are too panicked to lead a normal life as Jamaat-Shibir activists continued threatening them to withdraw the cases filed for attack on the minority people.
Seeing a few Hindus walking along Baura-Shafinagar road in Patgram upazila yesterday, Jamaat-Shibir men chased them.
“Shafinagar is our native village, Bangladesh is our motherland, we were born here and we want to die here. But our peaceful living is threatened due to repeated attacks by Jamaat-Shibir men,” said Harendra Nath Roy, caretaker of Parapukur Mandir.
“Due to frequent attacks and threats by Jamaat-Shibir men many Hindus are still out of their homes. Around one hundred Hindu families in the village are virtually barred from moving freely in the local bazaar for weeks,” said Sunil Chandra Sen, 48, a leader of the local Hindu community.
Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men attacked Hindus in the area and vandalised, looted and torched 18 shops on October 27, during the countrywide 60-hour hartal enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance, locals said.
On October 29, a case was lodged with Patgram police station accusing 111 Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men in connection with the incident.
Local Hindus blamed Bawra Union Parishad (UP) chairman Habibul Haque Basuniya and UP member Habibur Rahman Manik for ‘instigating’ the Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men to attack on the minority people.
Denying the allegation, Habibul Haque Basuniya said he formed a peace committee comprising 25 members from both the Muslim and the Hindu communities in the village to restore peaceful environment yesterday noon.
Around 60 Hindu families at Ghoshpara village of Jongra union in Patgram upazila are also passing their days amid panic as Jamaat-Shibir men vandalised and looted five shops and two houses of Hindus there on November 28, during the BNP-led opposition called three-day countrywide blockade.
A case was lodged with Patgram police station accusing 40 people including three identified Jamaat and Shibir leaders for the incident.
“Many people in the village, including myself, are still staying away from homes as Jamaat-Shibir men continued threatening us,” said Dhanjit Chandra Ghosh, a local.

Courtesy :The daily star dot net

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The Frightened Tale of Kauar Char

“I was entering my kitchen at around 10:00 AM. It was November 14 when suddenly around two thousand people broke into our yard, and later on our entire village carrying lethal weapons. Setting acts of arson. They plundered some gold ornaments, a TV, a refrigerator and a wardrobe out of my home. Within minutes my sweet home turned into ashes before my very eyes,” said Champa Rani Halder (age: 34).
It was Champa Rani and some fellow women of her village Kauar Char who were narrating their witness account. The horrendous tale of their plight to us on November 22 morning when a small team of us, a handful of former members of Dhaka University film society, visited the affected area. We caught up with them just after a communal harmony meeting (Sampriti Samabesh) was over in the panic stricken village. District Commissioner (DC) of Barisal, local Union Parisad Chairman from the present ruling party, Thana Nirbahi Officer (TNO), locally Elected MP from Awami League, members of Maha Nagar Puja Committee and members of Anubhab Samabay Samity (a Hindu community based Cooperative Society) were present in the meeting in presence of the villagers from both the villages: Kauar Char and the nearby village from where the attack came.
The unpleasant incident occurred at Kauar Char is known to all. A young man named Parvez Gazi was murdered on November 14, 2013. It was in the evening when he came to the neighbouring village of Kauar Char. The murder took place in the heat of the moment. Till now Parvez Gazi’s murder is shrouded in mystery. But the problem is the two alleged “killers” who were basically outsiders and had fled the scene while many innocent men, absent on the spot on the day, were arrested with their families harassed
Now who are the real perpetrators behind the fabrication of an ill motivated rumor that ignited mob sentiments to attack their neighbouring village? Some locals have testified on condition of anonymity that the local Union Parisad Chairman of Awami League may be one of the initiators as he could not secure a handsome number of votes from this Hindu village in last general elections. The students of Broja Mohan College of Barisal who pioneered the mob attack are proven cadres of Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL). The deceased Parvez Gazi’s elder brother is a leader of BCL Barisal. One police officer, on the condition of anonymity, informed that the onus of this arson attack and plundering of the Hindu village basically happened due to the callousness and negligence of the concerned administration.
We grieve and mourn the untimely death of Parvez Gazi and demand stern punishment of the killers. But what can justify plundering 16 families of a minority village?
The writer is Communication, Website and List-Serve Manager of Gender and Water Alliance (GWA).
Email: audity.falguni@gmail.com
Courtesy: the daily star dot com

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