Noakhali Communal Violence: ‘BNP’s Bulu, others linked’; SP cites 164

A man accused in a case filed over the communal violence in Noakhali has named BNP Vice-chairman Barkatullah Bulu as an instigator.

Faisal Inam Kamal, joint convener of Noakhali Swechchhasebak Dal, named Bulu while giving his confessional statement at the Noakhali Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Monday night.

Contacted, Bulu yesterday said he was being framed to defame his 50-year political career.

"I strongly condemn the attacks on Hindu businesses, temples and homes. This is a heinous act and I demand a judicial inquiry," he said.

Kamal claimed that Bulu and 15 others were involved in planning and instigating the attack. Judicial Magistrate Saidan Nahi recorded the statement.

Superintendent of Police in Noakhali Md Shahidul Islam narrated the events at the court to journalists during a press conference held yesterday morning.

Kamal was arrested on Sunday night, said SP Islam. Kamal was then prosecuted under the Digital Security Act for uploading inciteful content on social media and spreading hate speech.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said yesterday that the names of all those involved in instigating communal violence in different parts of the country will be disclosed soon.

Those who have already been arrested, have named many people during interrogation, he said. "You will also have heard of those names, as some are very familiar to you."

Asaduzzaman made the remarks while participating in a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum at the Secretariat.

The minister said those arrested in connection with the Rangpur and Noakhali incidents have disclosed the names of their instigators while giving their confessional statements under Section 164.

Additionally, two individuals arrested in Feni also gave their confessional statements to the court.

"I do not want to say now whether the BNP-Jamaat is there or not but we will let you know for sure," said the minister.

"We primarily assumed that the Holy Quran that was kept [on a puja mandap in Cumilla's Nanua Dighir Par on October 13], had come from somewhere. We took it as a challenge and sent police teams of all levels there to uncover the facts.

"We saw that there was a pond next to the mosque where fish farming took place. The fisherman had set up a camera on the verandah of the mosque. In the camera, it was clearly seen that someone took the Holy Quran from the mosque and left it on the idol," said the home boss.

"We had the idea that there could be difficulties after the Friday prayers [in Noakhali on October 15]. We had requested Hindu devotees to immerse their idols [while observing Durga Puja] before the Friday prayers and they did so. The Friday prayers also ended peacefully.

"But an altercation began later. One group kept the police busy and another group carried out the violence," he added.

"There has been a lot of vandalism. It was at that moment that one person died after jumping into a pond," said the minister.

The minister further said that the violence was planned by a group to destabilise the country and destroy communal harmony. It would be possible soon to find out who caused it, he added.

The police chief yesterday ordered officials to identify the culprits by scrutinising the footage from CCTVs, as well as those seen in the media and on social media.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed instructed police officials to complete investigations of the cases filed quickly so that the culprits can be punished. He also asked the officials to be careful so that no innocent people are harassed.

The IGP gave the instructions yesterday afternoon while holding a zoom meeting with officials ranked SP and upwards, according to sources.

Multiple sources who attended the meeting said the IGP asked field-level police officials to organise harmony rallies with people from all faiths.

He also asked field-level officials to ensure that protection around renowned Hindu temples and large businesses are amped up over the next couple of months, so that none can carry out any subversive activities.