Source:
Niti Central
It has been 43 years since Bangladesh won its freedom from Pakistan
in 1971. Despite getting freedom, Hindus living in Bangladesh remain
vulnerable to attacks by anti-liberation forces. The year 2013 saw rise
in the incidents of violence against them which forced several Hindu
families to fled their homes following post-poll violence in different
districts on January 5. Now, they are so scared to return as the
Government failed to provide security.
As soon as voting ended on January 5 afternoon, the supporters of
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-Shibir vandalised, looted
and burned Hindu houses in Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra,
Lalmonirhat, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jessore. However, this is not the
first time that Hindus in Bangladesh are facing atrocities at the hands
of radicals. They have been living under constant threat since 1971.
But the incidents of violence have increased since the International
Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh indicted Delawar Hossain Sayeedi on at
least 20 counts of crimes against humanity on October 4, 2011. He is a
Bangladeshi Islamist politician and the vice-president of
Jamaat-e-Islami. Sayeedi is known for his hatred of non-Muslims and has
been accused of murder, loot, arson, rape and forcible conversion of
Hindus to Islam during the Bangladesh Liberation War. In fact, on
February 28, 2013, Sayeedi was convicted of 16 charges, including loot,
arson, murder and genocide. He was sentenced to death for two of the
charges.
Bangladeshi Hindus repeatedly face the ire of Muslim fanatics – Video dated – March 5, 2013
The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh had also convicted
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, an Islamic televangelist and leader of
Jamaat-e-Islami and sentenced him to death. After that the Tribunal had
sentenced Kader Mollah to life imprisonment. On February 28, 2013, the
International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Delawar Hossain Sayeedi to death
for the war crimes committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Following the sentence, activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student
wing Islami Chhatra Shibir attacked the Hindus in different parts of the
country. Hindu properties were looted, their houses were burnt and
temples were desecrated and set on fire.
While the Bangladeshi Government held the Jamaat-e-Islami responsible
for the attacks on the minorities, its leadership denied any
involvement. The minority leaders have protested the attacks and
appealed for justice. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has directed the
law enforcement to start suo motu investigation into the attacks.
According to various news reports, more than 50 Hindu temples and over
1,500 Hindu homes were destroyed in 20 districts.
Here is a detailed district-wise list of incidents of terrorism that hit Bangladesh in 2013:
Chittagong Division:
The jihadi groups responsible for these attacks are largely funded by
the notorious Hefazate Islam, Jamaati Islami and BNP. BNP and Jamaati
Islami has been funding these extremist groups. This was portrayed in an
article by a Pakistani journalist in the International Herald Tribune.
In Noakhali district several Hindu homes and temples came under the
attack of the Islamists.
On the morning of February 28, 2013, the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami
and Islami Chhatra Shibir began to gather near Rajganj Bazar in
Begumganj Upazila. The procession vandalised the Kali temple at Rajganj
Bazar and the temple near Bainnabari. Then they attacked the Hindus in
nearby Tongipar and Aladinagar villages. They vandalised at least eight
Hindu houses and looted valuables, including money and jewellery.
The temple of Bhuiyan in Tongipar village was vandalised in which at
least six people were injured. The violence continued in phases till the
evening. Around 6:30 pm, Rapid Action Battalion was deployed to control
the situation. On March 23, 2013, Islamic extremists vandalised and
looted a temple at Companiganj Upazila. On March 26, 2013, radicals set
fire in a Hindu house at Zirtali union belonging to Begamganj Upazila.
On March 28, 2013, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami
Bangladesh activists set fire in a temple at Bagahichari Upazilla in
Rangamati district.
Khulna Division:
On the night of February 28, 2013, the radicals vandalised another
temple in Pingjour village under Chingrikhali Union in Morrelganj
Upazila of Bagerhat district. The Dumuria Sharbajaneen temple under
Ramachandrapur Union too was set on fire. Two houses of Hindus, one
belonging to a local Awami League leader, were set on fire in Banogram
Union.
On April 3, 2013, radicals torched a Hindu temple after vandalising
three idols. In Satkhira, Jamaat and Shibir activists attacked Hindu
houses and business establishments. In Kadamtala, City College More and
Abader Hat areas of Satkhira municipality more than hundred Hindu
residences and business establishments were looted and destroyed.
On March 5, 2013, Jamaat-Shibir and BNP activists set burnt eight
Hindu houses in Khulna. On March 12, 2013 around midnight, miscreants
vandalised 23 idols of Shiv temple at the Angita cremation ground in
Kaliganj Upazila of Jhenaidah district.
On March 18, 2013, more than 150 armed assailants attacked and
valdalised the Pabla Sarbajanin Kalibari Temple in Khulna city’s
Banikpara around 9:30pm. They ransacked the houses and shops of Hindus
in the area.
Rangpur Division:
On February 28, 2013, activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra
Shibir attacked a Hindu temple and destroyed Hindu-owned business
establishments in Gaibandha district. However, in the evening, they
vandalised some houses in the Shobhaganj Union. The Hindu community
leaders complained that the attackers had vandalised the central Kali
temple at Mithapukur Upazila in Rangpur District.
Shortly after the midnight of March 2, 2013, some 40 people abused
and threatened Hindus attacking their houses at Uttar Maheshpur village
in Raniganj area of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila of Dinajpur district. They
set fire to the homes and haystacks of 12 Hindu peasant families, as
they barely managed to escape alive. At around 1 am two fire brigade
units from Dinajpur arrived and doused the fire but the houses were
completely reduced to ashes.
Jamat-Shibir activists also blocked the Joypurhat-Bogra highway for
over three hours. Meanwhile on March 5, 2013, the Sree Sree Shoshan Kali
Mandir at Rotherpar village in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district
was vandalised. On March 7, fanatics set fire to an Hindu temple after
destroying goddess Kali idol at Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat. Sree
Sree Kali Mandir at Bejgram village was also burnt down at night.
On March 8, 2013, a Radha Gobinda temple is burnt down in Rangpur city.
Barisal Division:
In Barisal District, a Hindu temple was set on fire in Nalchira Union
of Gaurnadi Upazila. On March 5, 2013, the radicals tried to set fire
to the Guthia Sarbajaneen Kali Mandir under Guthia union in Wazirpur
Upazila. The images of Kali and Mahadev were destroyed. However, in the
evening, a Radha Krishna temple was set on fire in Batajor Village under
Bamna Upazila in Barguna District.
In the wee hours of March 12, 2013, two Hindu houses on New Vatikhana
Road in Barisal were set ablaze by unknown criminals. On April 4, 2013,
Islamic fanatics torched down a Hindu temple at Kathalia Upazila under
Jhalokati District.
Rajshahi Division:
On March 7, 2013, an idol of the Hindu goddess Kali was destroyed and
a Hindu temple was set on fire at Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat. On
the night of March 12, 2013, radicals vandalised a Hari temple in
Pakuria village and destroyed the idol.
On March 19, 2013, Islamists desecrated idols in four Hindu temples of Gabtali Upazila in Bogra District.
Dhaka Division:
On March 3, 2013, in Lohajang Upazila of Munshiganj District a Kali
Temple was set on fire by fanatics. On the same day, another Hindu
temple was burnt down in which six people, including a Jamaat leader
were arrested on charges of torching this temple. However, on March 6,
2013, Ananda Ashram Mandir of Fulbaria village under the Ballabhdi Union
in Faridpur District was set on fire.
On March 8, 2013, Islamist extremists vandalised a Kali Temple at
Sashangaon village under Sirajdikhan Upazila in Munshiganj District.
On March 11, 2013, a temple at Fulbaria Upazila in Mymensingh District was vandalised.
On the night of March 15, 2013, some unidentified men vandalised the
image of Saraswati in a 77 year old Hindu temple in Madhabpur area of
Sherpur municipality in Sherpur District.
On March 18, 2013, at least seven idols in Harimandir in Netrokona
Sadar upazila’s Bobahala have been desecrated by smashing them to
pieces. On the same day in Gazipur District, the attackers damaged six
idols in a Hindu temple at Dakhkhin Marta of Sreepur.
On March 22, 2013, unidentified men set fire to a Lakshmi temple at Gazipur Sadar Upazila in Gazipur District.
On April 2, 2013, religious fanatics set the largest Hindu temple at
Bhuiyanpur upazila in Tangail District. On April 5, 2013, A Kali Mandir,
Panchmandir and Shiv Mandir in Mirzapur of Tangail District ere
vandalised. On the same day, one temple was vandalised at Rajoir under
Madaripur District during the clash of two political parties.
On April 8, religious fanatics vandalized a Hindu temple in Jamalpur
District. On the same day, fanatics also vandalised a temple at Fulbaria
under Mymensingh District.
On April 19, 2013, a few unidentified miscreants torched a Hindu
temple at Mahendri village in Rajoir upazila of Madaripur District.
Sylhet Division:
On March 12, 2013, radicals set fire around a temple at Juri Upazila
in Maulvi Bazar District. But not much damaged was done to the temple
because the fire was brought under control.
