'BNP-Jamaat always plays religion card, turning Muslims against non-Muslims'
Reiterating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's commitment to provide security for Hindus in Bangladesh, Sajeeb Wazed Joy has called for punishment for the perpetrators of the recent communal violence in the country.
Calling the attacks on Hindu temples and puja mandaps since October 13 as the most "deplorable in the country's history", Joy used his social media account to counter the "conspirators" who staged the desecration of the Holy Quran in Cumilla.
Joy held the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami responsible for the attacks on temples in as many as 12 districts across the country that left several dead.
"A quarter with vested interest was pushing the country into the pits of darkness by misrepresenting Islam and instilling intolerance among people. BNP and Jamaat have always played the religion card, turning Muslims against non-Muslims and creating apprehension among people. This time it was no exception," he said.
Sharing a video of the violence, Joy dubbed the recent spate of attacks as a "deep rooted conspiracy against the country".
Only within 300 metres from the mandap is Cumilla City Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku's residence, who has been nominated from BNP, the narration on the video added.
"While people, in general, are taking the street to protest the communal clashes, BNP has not launched any such protest. Rather, they are desperately trying to save the main culprit Iqbal who placed the Quran on the lap of a Hindu idol at the dead of the night," added Joy.
Mentioning Nurul Haq Nur's party men behind the attack in Chattogram, the video mentioned: "Police arrested 10 people, by observing CCTV footage, on charge of attacking the mandap at JM Sen Hall."
Nine arrestees are from Nur's party, "who has already played a vital role in the anti-government propaganda".
"Bangabandhu established secularism as one of the pillars of the constitution and initiated a culture of communal harmony in Bangladesh," Joy also said.
"Following Bangabandhu's assassination, military rulers virtually ripped that constitution apart. That darkest period witnessed the rise of the pro-Pakistan political party and the government. The spirit of the Liberation War was fading away," he added.
The secularism principle was removed from the Bangladesh constitution in 1977 by then President Ziaur Rahman.
"Islam was declared the State religion in 1988. In 2010, with Sheikh Hasina at the helm of the government, the Bangladesh Supreme Court reinstated secularism in the constitution," he mentioned.
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