As communal violence escalates in Bangladesh, a group of people attacked houses of the Hindu community at a village in Rangpur’s Pirganj Upazila over a post on social media that allegedly dishonoured religion.
Dhaka [Bangladesh] : At least 20 houses were completely burnt in Majhipara’s Jelepolli at Ramnathpur Union in the attack that was carried out late on Sunday. According to the local Union Parishad chairman, some 65 houses were torched during the attack. “They attacker belonged to the local units of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir,” Chairman Md Sadequl Islam told Dhaka Tribune. Police said tensions erupted after some people alleged that a Hindu man posted religiously abusive content on Facebook. “Police reached the spot soon after tensions mounted and stood guard around the home of the young man. We could save that house but attackers torched some 15 to 20 nearby houses,” Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Kamruzzaman told Dhaka Tribune. The Fire Service that the incident was reported around 9:50 pm. Firefighting units from Pirganj, Mithapukur and Rangpur city rushed to put out the flames. They are at the scene until 3 am on Monday. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Wednesday, communal violence broke out in several places in Bangladesh after news broke on social media about the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran at a Durga Puja venue on the bank of Nanuar Dighi. Several puja venues were vandalized in the area of Chandpur, Chittagong, Gazipur, Bandarban, Chapainawabganj and Moulvibazar. The clashes resulted in several casualties. On Friday, one man named Jatan Kumar Saha was killed and 17 others were injured in an attack in Begumganj Upazila of Bangladesh’s Noakhali district. Also, a mob attacked an ISKCON temple in Bangladesh’s Noakhali district on Friday and according to the community, one of its members was killed.
Table of Contents
ISKCON calls upon Hasina govt to ensure minorities’ safety
Maryland [US] : Expressing shock over the recent series of violent attacks at Hindu minority in Bangladesh, the ISKCON called upon the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government to take swift action to bring an end to the violence and demanded that perpetrators of the attacks should be brought to justice. In an official statement issued on Sunday (local time), the worldwide International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) said multiple temples, homes, shops and individuals were attacked across several districts of the country and several innocent members of the Hindu minority were killed. A series of attacks on minority religious places in Bangladesh took place. “The worldwide International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community is shocked and saddened by the recent series of violent events directed against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, including our own ISKCON temples and members,” read the statement. The ISKCON said two Vaishnava devotees, Pranta Chandra das, and Jatan Chandra Saha were killed in the attack. “With heavy hearts, we pray for the souls of two of our own who were murdered during these attacks. We also pray for ISKCON member Nimai Chandra das, who remains hospitalized in a critical condition,” read the statement. Praising the recent statement by PM Hasina in support of minorities, the ISKCON urged Dhaka to take tangible steps to ensure the long-term safety and well-being of all Bangladeshi citizens. “ISKCON calls upon the Bangladesh government to take swift action to bring an end to the violence against minorities that has undermined the peace and well-being of Bangladeshi society and to take tangible steps to ensure the long-term safety and well-being of all Bangladeshi citizens. That includes to: Bring to justice the perpetrators of these recent terrible crimes. The criminals behind these murderous attacks must be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement read. “That includes to: Bring to justice the perpetrators of these recent terrible crimes. The criminals behind these murderous attacks must be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement read.
