Petition Over Mayhem in Ramu: Proceedings stalled at HC for 6 years

It is uncertain when the High Court will deliver its verdict on the writ petitions seeking actions against those who attacked Buddhist communities in Ramu in 2012 as well as the negligent administration officials who didn’t prevent the mayhem. 

The court is yet to start the final hearing on the petitions due to reconstitution of its bench and the lack of willingness of the lawyers concerned in moving the petitions.

Three separate probe reports identifying the attackers and nonchalant officials have been submitted to the HC over six years ago.

The probes were done on HC orders following two separate public interest writ petitions filed by two Supreme Court lawyers after a mob destroyed 12 pagodas and more than 50 houses in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar on September 29, 2012.

The violence started after a reportedly fake Facebook account of a Buddhist young man posted a picture demeaning the Holy Quran, according to an investigation by The Daily Star.

SC lawyers Jyotirmoy Barua and Eunus Ali Akond filed the two writ petitions on October 2 and 3, 2012, seeking actions against the perpetrators and negligent local administration officials.

The probe reports were submitted later to the HC bench led by Justice Mirza Hussain Haider, who is now a judge of the Appellate Division of the SC. Before the elevation of the judge, the jurisdiction of the bench was reconstituted by the chief justice.

Asked why he had not moved the petition in such a long time, Jyotirmoy Barua said, “I am not taking any move for hearing of the writ petition as the relevant High Court benches are burdened with other cases. I have not been able to find any suitable bench which could hear and dispose of the petitions quickly.”

He added that almost all of those accused in the cases filed after Ramu attack were on bail.

Another writ petitioner Eunus Ali Akond said, “I will not pray to any bench for hearing the petition, as I know very well that the judges will not accept this petition due to the burden of cases. Over 1,000 judges need to be appointed to the High Court for quick hearing and disposal of cases.”

One of the probe reports submitted to the HC on May 16, 2013 blamed the failure of the local administration, intelligence and law enforcement agencies for their inaction.

The enquiry by a judicial body identified 298 people responsible for the attacks, HC sources said.

Another probe led by police blamed the then superintendent of police in Cox’s Bazar and officer-in-charge of Ramu Police Station for the failure. The committee recommended action against the then OC AK Nazibul Islam, but did not suggest any action against the then SP Selim Md Jahangir.

The other inquiry report of the home ministry mentioned that 205 people were involved behind the mayhem, planned at least 10 days ahead.