Bangladesh civil society protests attack on Hindus for Facebook post
NEW DELHI, JULY 17
The civil society in Bangladesh registered a strong protest against last Friday’s attack on Hindu houses, shops and a temple in a village allegedly in retaliation for a Facebook post by a Hindu youngster which had “hurt their religious sentiments”.
The attacks were carried out by some locals who, after Friday prayers, had started protesting in front of the student’s house. As he was missing, the mob ransacked Hindu homes and shops.
Haran Chandra Pal, an inspector (Investigation) at the local police station, said legal action would be taken against the attackers but conceded that none had yet been identified for arrest.
Twenty-one eminent citizens, including artistes Ramendu Majumdar, Sara Zaker and M Hamid; and writers Selina Hossain and Abed Khan, have condemned the attack. The Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, the country’s largest cultural organisation, said the impunity given to perpetrators of communal violence paved the way for more such attacks. Ain o Salish Kendra, a human rights organisation said, “This is not a new incident. These keep repeating because there is no independent investigation and no probe.”
The Bangladesh media interviewed the affected, including one Deepali Rani Saha whose house was burnt down and all valuables looted. Hers was among the three homes and several shops vandalised or burnt down. “Only because the student is Hindu and I too am, my house was burnt down,” she told the media.
“The only reason they beat me up was because I was Hindu. The accused youth’s house is far away from mine. How is this my fault? …. As a Hindu, I don’t feel safe in this village anymore,” said Gopal Saha, a fertiliser dealer.
