SMS threats continue

Just two days before Christmas, Bishop Bejoy D'Cruze, a top spiritual leader of Christians in the country, received a death threat via text message on Tuesday night, a continuation of acts of terrorising the community leaders since early October.

Six others, including Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA) Secretary General Nirmal Rozario, also got similar threats the same day.

The BCA says with the latest incidents, 37 religious and community leaders of Christians across the country have been threatened with life since October -- all via SMS, except for one who received a threat letter in Rangpur.

However, guardians of the religious minority say they will not give in to threats.

"Some Christians appear to be very afraid. But one needs to remember that we are the children of this land and cannot give in to threats. The majority of people are with us," said Pastor Aniruddha Das, general secretary of National Council of Churches, Bangladesh.

While Nirmal Rozario said, "These incidents are very unfortunate, and go against the spirit of equal rights and freedom of thoughts."

He strongly believes people of Bangladesh will fight such evil forces together. 

The leaders further say they want the government to arrest and punish the culprits, ensuring long-term security to them.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in a briefing said apart from regular intelligence surveillance, "visible" security measures will be in place to ensure a peaceful Christmas celebration.

All the churches across the country, including around 60 in the capital, will be brought under CCTV coverage, he said after a meeting with top officials of law enforcement agencies at his ministry.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Bishop Bejoy said a person identifying himself as Zaman Mozumder and coordinator of IGMB sent him a message from mobile phone No 01873-149580.

"Fulfil your last dream because your life is in last stage. Very soon you are going to be killed by us," it read.

This was the first time such a top Catholic leader received a death threat.

Nirmal Rozario of the BCA got similar threat from the same number  using the same name and same identity. However, there has been no clue yet as to what is IGMB.

Earlier at 4:54 and 4:56pm the same day, Nirmal received two more messages from mobile No 01714-737507. One read: "There will be arrangements for you during Christmas" and the other: "Let us know whether we will arrange your funeral or allow your family to do so".

According to the BCA, others who received threats on Tuesday are Father Subrata Boniface Tolentino of Sreemangal, Father Ujjal Rozario of Dinajpur, Brother Binoy of Dhaka, Aldrick Biswas, executive editor of Samabarta, a community magazine; and an Uttara-based pastor Jagadish Edward.

Jagadish Edward also received death threat on November 11.

On October 5, unidentified youths attacked and tried to slit open the throat of Bangladeshi pastor Luke Sarkar, 52, at his house in Pabna. Then on November 18, unknown gunmen shot Italian priest Piero Parolari in Dinajpur.

Between November 11 and 25, at least 24 pastors and priests in Dhaka, Savar, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Satkhira have been threatened with life.

Police arrested some leaders of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in connection with the attacks on Italian priest Piero Parolari and pastor Luke Sarkar. However, none was arrested for issuing the death threats.

Christian leaders say as a religious minority, they sometimes face problems like land grabbing by influential groups, but death threats or targeted attacks on them are unprecedented.

According to the 2011 Census report, there are some 4.5 lakh (0.3 percent of the total population) Christians in Bangladesh.

Bishop Sebastian Tudu of Dinajpur said the government deployed police at important Christian institutions there. He added they planned to complete all Christmas programme by evening due to security concerns. 

Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario, head of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh, met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on November 23, seeking security for all the minority communities.

The minister said plainclothes police were working to ensure security of the Christian community. "If anyone feels insecure and informs us, we will deploy police force for them," he told The Daily Star recently.

Without elaborating, Kamal claimed that most of those who attacked or threatened Christian priests or pastors have been arrested.