250 incidents in 4 months

Religious and ethnic minority communities in the country faced at least 250 incidents of violence, including murder, rape and illegal occupation, in the last four months, according to a report.

Although such violence was showing a downward trend in the last two years, the number of incidents -- that took place within the last few months -- indicates that repression on minorities is on the rise again, said the report.

Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, a representative body of religious minority communities, prepared the report based on news published in different national dailies and information collected from social media and their activists.

The report was unveiled at a press conference held at Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

According to the report, at least 23 minorities were murdered, six found dead (suspected to be murdered) and 188 were assaulted in the last four months.

Besides, seven women were raped, five gang-raped and 10 others sexually harassed within the timeframe.

In addition, over 31 houses and business institutions of minorities were looted, while 162 were illegally evicted from their properties, said the report. It also said at least 29 temples had been attacked since April.

The Oikya Parishad in its previous reports found that the total number of violence against minorities were 1,471 in 2016, which came down to 1,004 in 2017. Last year, the total instances of violence was 806.

At yesterday’s press conference, Oikya Parishad General Secretary Rana Dasgupta said there is no doubt that repression on minorities is increasing. “Minority rights situation has improved in recent years… But the incidents of violence, between January and April, is a reason to worry about,” he said.

“The condition of the minorities will worsen if the government cannot implement its commitment to zero tolerance against communalism,” added Dasgupta.

He also announced to carry out a countrywide demonstration on May 25, demanding arrest of those involved with violence against minorities.