Attacks on minorities trigger protest, immediate trial of perpetrators demanded

Source: Dhaka Tribune

Ganajagaran Mancha observed a rally yesterday protesting the attacks on minorities and urged people to resist such attacks

•  Activists of Ganajagaran Mancha bring out a procession at Shahbagh yesterday before starting for the road march to Malopara of Jessore. The Mancha called out for the march to protest communal violence by the oppositions  
  Photo- Dhaka Tribune

Various human rights, cultural and civil society organisations yesterday raised their voices against the attacks on minority people across the country and demanded an immediate trial of the perpetrators.

Ganajagaran Mancha observed a rally yesterday protesting the attacks on minorities and urged people to resist such attacks.

“For the last 43 years, it had only been limited to protest programmes, but it is high time we actually took steps to resist such heinous acts, not just being content with mere protests,” Imran H Sarker, spokesperson of Ganajagaran Mancha, said while reacting to the attacks on minorities.

Imran was addressing a rally in front of the main gate of Jahangirnagar University as part of their two-day “Road March” to Jessore.

Human Right’s Forum Bangladesh also condemned the attacks on the Hindus in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile, civil society platform Nagarik Sanghati yesterday urged the government to constitute a tribunal for bringing perpetrators involved in communal attack on minorities to justice.

The victims of such attacks always seek justice, but a vested quarter is carrying out attacks on minorities because of impunity, and the situation is worsening gradually, the speakers said, addressing the rally in front of the National Museum in the capital.

They also urged the government to bring the attackers under trial immediately apart from providing compensation to the victims living a miserable life after the attacks.

Meanwhile, 10 civil society organisations observed a human chain and silent procession in Habiganj city, protesting the violence against minority people. They called upon the government for immediate arrest of perpetrators and take measures to secure every people of the country.

Civil society leaders of Khagrachari organised a discussion that criticised the role of law enforcement agencies during the attack and urged the government to enact a tougher law to ensure rights of minority community in the country.

They also demanded proper compensation and rehabilitation for the victims, apart from taking steps to secure their life and properties.

Communist Party Bangladesh observed a human chain and demonstration at Narayanganj.

It said BNP and Awami League were blaming one another for the attack on minorities. Such blame game helped the perpetrators to hide out, added the party.

The speakers of the party laid blame on Police, RAB and local Awami League leaders, saying these people were at the places where such attacks took place, but they did not take any action against the attackers.

Human chain and rally were observed at Feni, Kurigram Madaripur, Gopalganj, and Sirajganj districts protesting the attacks.

Meanwhile, a team of police arrested Akkas Ali, a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami from Kochubunia village in Morelganj upazila, suspecting his involvement in arson attack on two temples on Wednesday night.

Earlier, law enforcers arrested three BNP activists – Mintu, Isahaq and Halim on the same charges.

Just after the 10th parliamentary poll, attacks on the minority people have taken place in the villages of Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jessore districts.