Attack on Buddhists
Judicial probe demanded by rights bodies
(From left) Director (rights) of Manusher Jonno Foundation Rina Roy, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Chairperson of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) Hameeda Hossain, and Executive Director of ASK Sultana Kamal at a press briefing at Cox's Bazar municipality office yesterday. The three organisations jointly hosted the programme to protest the recent violence against Buddhists in Cox's Bazar and Chittagong. Photo: STAR
Three human rights organisations yesterday demanded a judicial probe into the recent attacks on Buddhist temples and houses in Cox's Bazar and Chittagong, and measures to protect the religious minorities. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Manusher Jonno Foundation made the demand at a press briefing in Cox's Bazar municipality office, a day after the rights activists visited the affected areas. On September 29 night, a mob of religious zealots destroyed 12 temples and more than 50 houses in Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar. The following day, two monasteries and a Hindu temple were vandalised in Chittagong's Patiya upazila and two monasteries set ablaze in Ukhia of Cox's Bazar. The violence was apparently triggered by a Facebook posting of a photo defaming the holy Quran. The rights organisations also demanded immediate identification and trial of the culprits; punitive actions against the law enforcers who neglected their duties during the mayhem; and measures to ensure peaceful coexistence of all the communities. They also asked for recovery of the artefacts that have been looted during the rampage and reconstruction of the damaged Buddhist establishments. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the role of the administration and law enforcers during the attacks remained questionable. "Several incidents of arson and vandalism took place in more than one area of Ukhia just after the home minister had visited Cox's Bazar," he added. ASK Executive Director Sultana Kamal said the attack on the Buddhist community was premeditated. In Ukhia, it was made in guerrilla style, she added. ASK Chairperson Dr Hameeda Hossain and Manusher Jonno Foundation Director Rina Roy spoke at the press briefing. The rights leaders appreciated the government initiative to distribute cash among the affected Buddhists immediately after the incident. They, however, urged the politicians to avoid blame game.
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