Ahle Sunnat denies link in attack on Hindus

Islamic group Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat today denied allegation of their involvement in the October 30 attack on Hindus in Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar upazila.

Mosaheb Uddin Bakhtiar, member secretary of the group’s central committee, made the statement in a press conference held at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

“We held a rally there on October 30 with permission. Local administration, additional superintendent of police and upazila nirbahi officer were present in the rally,” he said.

“We held a peaceful rally on that day (October 30),” he claimed adding: “There were two factions during the rally. One was us, but the other faction was not us”.

Zealots, in a hate attack, vandalised at least five Hindu temples and ransacked over a hundred houses of the minority community on October 30 over a Facebook post.

The attack was carried out following Islamic gathering in the area hosted by Ahle Sunnat.

Later, several other attacks were carried out. Several houses of minority groups were set on fire.

National Human Rights Commission blamed the organisers of the rally and held them responsible. They said the motive was to drive away Hindus and grab their lands.