Attack on minority community

THE Hindu villagers in Abhayanagar upazila of Jessore, on Election Day had to pay a price for exercising their democratic right  to vote.  With 130 houses vandalised and 10 houses burnt down some 600 Hindus had to flee their village by swimming across the Bhairab River as BNP-Jamaat men allegedly unleashed terror.
We condemn such attack by heinous elements.We also note the fact that Election violence of this nature could not be prevented as the law enforcers of the area were min to be busy on election duty. What's the point of performing Election duties, if vulnerable communities of voters are kept unprotected? Only a handful of Hindus could cast their votes in Lalmonirhat and Sathkira when majority of the community took fright of attacks by Jammat-Shibir elemets.
The government should have been more vigilant in terms of protecting local communities that scattered across the country. Law enforcers, in particular, should have been more heedful after the Jammat-Shibir activists beat up women and children, looted and torched shops and houses in Goshpara village on 28 November last year. During an opposition-enforced countrywide blockade at least 55 Hindu families had fled the area in December that year following threats and attacks.  Protection of minority rights is a part and parcel of how a pluralistic society functions, and is a measure of good governance in a democratic society.