‘An appalling incident’

Different platforms and noted citizens yesterday condemned the recent attack on Hindu community houses in Sunamganj's Shalla upazila, demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the real culprits.

Noagaon village was allegedly attacked by Hefajat-e-Islam supporters two days after a rally of the Qawmi madrasa-based Islamist organisation in nearby Derai upazila on Monday in presence of Hefajat amir Junayed Babunagari and joint secretary general Mamunul Haque.

The attack was carried out over an alleged Facebook post criticising a Hefajat-e-Islam leader's statement.

In a joint statement, 10 eminent citizens yesterday protested the incident of launching attack, vandalising and looting at least 75 Hindu houses and said they are "appalled by the incident".

Demanding immediate arrest of Hefajat leader Mamunul and other culprits involved in the incident, they alleged that local administration and law enforcement agencies did not take any steps despite having information about a possible attack.

They said Hefajat and Jamaat dared to carry out attacks at different places in the past after being sheltered by different quarters.

They urged Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to take due steps in this connection, expressing concern that the incident may tarnish the country's image abroad.

The eminent citizens further expressed concern that the trial process against people involved in similar incidents in the past has not ended yet.

"Our fear is that if such incident continues, Bangladesh will not move forward, rather lag behind while all the achievements will go in vain," read the statement.

The eminent citizens are: columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, author Hasan Azizul Haque, folklorist Shamsuzzaman Khan, Liberation War Museum trustees Sarwar Ali and Mofidul Hoque, theatre personalities Nasiruddin Yousuff and Mamunur Rashid, historian Prof Muntassir Mamoon, war crimes researcher Shahriar Kabir, and writer Abdus Selim.

Meanwhile, expressing anger over the incident, leaders of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad said torture and oppression on small religious and ethnic groups in Bangladesh that achieved independence through the Liberation War will not be tolerated.

The parisahd leaders raised the question that for how long such incident will continue and demanded that the real culprits be arrested immediately and their exemplary punishment be ensured.

Protesting the incident, the parishad yesterday organised human chains and rallies across the country. Centrally, a human chain and rally took place in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital, said a press release.

In a separate statement, good-governance campaigner Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik said the administration cannot avoid responsibility over being silent instead of being proactive to prevent the incident as similar attacks have recurred in the past.

Referring to arrest of a local Jubo League leader for his alleged involvement in the incident, the organisation said involvement of those belonging to the party at the helm of local government is even more worrisome.

In another statement, Dhaka University Teachers' Association termed the incident a "planned communal attack". Besides, members of the association demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers and their instigators.

They also urged the government to compensate the affected families and ensure their security.