Fresh attack on Hindu houses

Five days after the synchronised attack on the Hindus in Brahmanbaria's Nasirnagar, five Hindu homes were torched there in the wee hours yesterday, spreading panic among the already frightened minority community.

The arson attack by unknown people saw six structures burned down, including cowsheds and kitchens attached to Hindu homes in Banikpara, Akhrapara, Thakurpara, and Hashpatalpara in Nasirnagar between 3:00am and 4:00am, the local administration said. 

There were no reports of anyone being hurt.

Later around 6:00pm, miscreants set fire at a pile of straw belonging to a Hindu family at Chotipara in the upazila's Gokarna union, said Mahiuddin Ahmed, sub-inspector of Nasirnagar Police Station.

It is a remote area, and so he could not give further details.

These fresh attacks came only two days after Fisheries Minister Sayeedul Haque, also a local Awami League MP, claimed that Sunday's hate attack over a Facebook post was “not that serious” and that “only one or two incidents of looting took place”.

The minister also claimed barely "one or two houses were affected" and then went on to accuse the media of exaggeration.

Contrary to his claim, however, the local administration in a survey found at least 58 families were affected and 17 temples were either damaged or looted when religious zealots went berserk for around two hours in at least eight Hindu-dominated areas that day. 

The office of the Nasirnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer conducted the survey and submitted its findings to the deputy commissioner of Brahmanbaria on Wednesday.

Initial media reports suggested around 100 homes and at least 10 temples were vandalised and/or looted.

The UNO's office also found that six people, including a physically challenged woman, were injured as "an unruly mob" ran amok through the areas.

The total damage has been estimated at Tk 71 lakh, said the survey report obtained by The Daily Star.

Sunday's attack followed a Facebook post from the account of Rasraj Das, a local fisherman, “hurting the religious sentiment” of the Muslims.

The post showed a photo of Hindu God Shiva placed on the photo of Kaba, considered a holy place in Islam.

Rasraj, 27, is now in jail in a case filed over the post. Before his arrest and the systematic mayhem, he claimed he had nothing to do with the post, but apologised for it anyway. Relatives say his account may have been hacked.

Following widespread criticisms over the failure of the police and the local administration to prevent the attack, the officer-in-charge of Nasirnagar police was withdrawn.

Various quarters have also been demanding the immediate resignation of the fisheries minister and the UNO.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has defended the police role, saying the force acted promptly. 

Meanwhile, Brahmanbaria District AL has suspended three local AL leaders for their alleged instigation and involvement in the attack, RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, president of the district AL, told The Daily Star last night.

The three are Abul Hashem, Nasirnagar union chairman and also assistant secretary of the upazila AL, Faruk Mia, president of Haripur union AL, and Haji Suruj Ali, president of Chapartola union AL.

The district AL has also formed a probe team to determine if any other AL men had any role, Obaidul added. “We will take organisational action if the investigation team finds anyone from the Awami League linked with the heinous incident.” 

THE LIST

The valuables damaged and looted from temples include gold and silver idols of different sizes, donation boxes, gold, cash and worshiping materials, according to the list prepared by the UNO office.

The attackers took away a gold idol of Krishna weighing 15 tolas from Gouro Mondir, the biggest temple in Nasirnagar Sadar Union. A 20-tola silver crown and Tk 50,000 were also looted from there.

Gouro Mondir alone lost cash and assets worth Tk 20 lakh, the survey found.

Valuables looted and damaged from the 58 houses include gold and other ornaments, furniture, TV sets, iron, idols, bronze dishes, showcases, cash, mobile sets, suitcases, sewing machines, blankets and fishing nets.

The family of Bimol Chowdhury of Goshpara under Nasirnagar union is the worst affected. Valuables worth about Tk 5.50 lakh, including Tk 2 lakh in cash and 8 tolas of gold, were looted from his house.

THE ARSON ATTACK

Nasirnagar UNO Choudhury Muazzem Ahmed said there might be a political motive behind yesterday's attack.

"A conspiracy is being hatched to create unrest in the area and spread panic among the minority community," he told The Daily Star.

Contacted, Rezwanur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Brahmanbaria, said "We had brought the situation under control, but this fresh attack was made to create panic and destroy communal harmony."

Padda Devi of Banikpara, one of the areas that came under the arson attack, said they couldn't identify the attackers.

“Several people came around 3:00am and left after setting fire,” said Padda, whose cowshed was set afire. “We could have died had they torched our house.”