Attacks on Hindus spark protests
Attacks on Hindus spark protests
Different organisations in several districts across the country yesterday staged protests against attacks on Hindus in Jessore and some other districts during and after the January 5 parliamentary elections.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) and Sonatan Jubo Parishad (SJP) held a rally in new court building area in Rangamati town yesterday noon, protesting the atrocities let loose by BNP and Jamaat-Shibir men at Hindu villages in Jessore and several northern districts during and after the elections, reports our correspondent.
Addressing the rally, leaders of the organisations said BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists beat up Hindus, vandalised and looted their houses and business establishments and set them afire, but the attackers are still at large.
They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the attacks and urged the government to ensure security of the people belonging to the Hindu community. They also demanded rehabilitation of the affected people.
The two organisations also formed a human chain at the venue for an hour and later took out a procession in the town. Amar Dey and Panchanan Bhattacharya, president and general secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, and Jewel Dey, Badal Dey and Shiva Prasad Dey of Sonatan Jubo Parishad addressed the rally.
In Bogra, Nagorik Samaj, a citizens' body in the town, formed a human chain in Satmatha area yesterday noon, protesting the recent attacks on Hindus in different parts of the country, according to our correspondent.
Journalists, representatives from other professional bodies and members of the different socio-cultural and political organisations joined the programme.
A protest rally was also held at the venue. Gonojagoron Mancha Bogra unit leader JM Rouf, Bogra Press Club General Secretary Prodip Bhattacharya Shankar, local AL leader Ragibul Ahsan Ripu, cultural activists ABM Ziaul Haque Babla, Toufique Hasan Moyna, Chairman of Bogra Co-operative Bank Aminul Islam Dablu, BJD district unit convener Kamol Krisna addressed the rally.
The speakers demanded security of the minority groups and immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers.
Our Moulvibazar correspondent adds: A human chain was formed in the district town yesterday, demanding immediate steps to stop attacks on the minorities and arrest of the culprits, who launched the attacks on Hindus in Jessore and several northern districts during and after the national elections.
Sontras abong Samprodayekkta Protirudh Committee Moulvibazar unit arranged the programme in Chowmohoni area of the town at noon.
People belonging to different professional bodies, cultural activists and local political leaders joined the programme.
Addressing a rally at the venue, Mokbul Hosain, president of the Moulvibazar unit of Udichi said BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists vandalised and torched Hindus' houses in several districts during and after the January 5 parliamentary elections, but the government has not yet taken any legal steps against the attackers.
He urged the government to ensure security of the minority groups and immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the recent attacks on Hindus.
Later, a procession was brought out in the town. Similar programmes were also held in Barisal, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Jhenidah and Rangpur districts.