B'baria attack sparks protests
Protests from various organisations and individuals poured in across the country yesterday for the attacks on the Hindus in Nasirnagar of Brahmanbaria and other places.
Holding protest programmes in different parts of the country, they demanded immediate resignation of Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul Haque for his "derogatory" comments on the minority people and of Nasirnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) for his "failure" to tackle the situation.
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Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad (BHBCOP), Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP), Bangladesh Jatiyo Hindu Mohajote (BJHM), Sammilito Sangskritik Jote and other organisations staged demonstrations, formed human chains and brought out processions in many districts, protesting all the recent attacks on the minorities, their houses and places of worship.
"We demanded that the minister resign as he failed to perform his duties. Zealots accompanied by ruling party activists perpetrated the attacks in his constituency," BPUP General Secretary Tapash Kumar Pal told a human chain in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
"What will be the fate of religious minorities if such attacks occur even when a party like Awami League (AL) is in power?" lamented BHBCOP member Amit Das Gupta. He demanded that the government ensure security of all minorities.
Meanwhile, protestors under the banner of the "General Students of Dhaka University” lay siege to AL Joint Secretary General Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif at Shahbagh intersection for around half an hour when they were staging a demonstration blocking the intersection from 12:30pm to 1:00pm.
Hanif, who was returning from Dhaka University after attending a programme, later got down from his vehicle and showed solidarity with them.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) in its central office urged to form a judicial probe body to unearth reasons for the incident scrapping the ones of police and Brahmanbaria District Administration.
CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim alleged, "The incident in Brahmanbaria is not a stray one, but rather it was premeditated."
In the port city, cultural organisation Khelaghor formed a human chain at Cheragi Pahar, while BJHM's Chittagong chapter formed a human chain and held a rally in front of Chittagong Press Club.
The number of such attacks by bigots is increasing due to a culture of impunity, said the protesters in the city, demanding formation of a special tribunal to try the perpetrators.
In Chapainawabganj Sadar, forming another human chain and holding a rally at Baroghoria Bridge Square, the Hindu people demanded removal of the UNO.
They also wanted the government to conduct an impartial probe and take stern actions against those involved.
In Sylhet, bringing out a procession, cultural activists accompanied by people from all walks of life, too, demanded justice and removal of the fisheries minister for his comments "demeaning" the minorities.
Meanwhile, in Lalmonirhat, the Hindus from different villages demonstrated, protesting attacks, rampage, and looting of their temples, houses as well as shops.
In Natore, hundreds of people forming a human chain in front of the district's press club, condemned the attacks and demanded Sayedul's resignation.
"How will we live in the country if a minister says it is not that big incident after visiting the spot?” said Bappi Lahery of Chhatra Jubo Oikya Parishad.
Other districts including Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Khulna, Manikganj, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Munshiganj, Kurigram and Sherpur, too, saw widespread protests in this connection.
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