Satkhira Minorities
Form body to probe repression
HC asks govt
The High Court yesterday directed the government to form a three-member committee to investigate into the recent incidents of repression on minority communities in Satkhira.
It also directed the committee, to be headed by a joint secretary of the law ministry, to submit a report on the investigation to it within May 17.
The incidents were brought to the court's attention on April 15 when Bangladesh Minority Watch President Rabindra Ghosh brought forth some newspapers reports.
The reports said some bigots set fire to several houses of Hindus at Kaliganj upazila in Satkhira district and looted valuables after bringing accusations that a drama performed by a local school's students hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Students of Fatehpur Secondary School staged the drama “Huzur Kabla” on their playground on March 27 marking Independence Day.
Afterwards, Habibur Rahman, superintendent of police of Satkhira, and Syed Fariduddin, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, were closed.
The duo appeared yesterday as per the court's summons on April 15, the day which the court also issued a suo moto rule asking them why they should not be suspended for their failure to stop the attack and save the properties.
Yesterday the court also directed the committee to investigate the duo's role in the incident and see whether Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was disrespected in the drama.
The HC bench comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim fixed May 17 for further hearing on the matter and directed the duo to appear before it that day.
Senior lawyer Yusuf Hossain Humayun appeared on behalf of the duo while Additional Attorney General MK Rahman moved for the state.
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