Human rights activists say about B’baria mayhem, fisheries minister plays down looting Hindu houses
On the looting of valuables from the Hindu houses and temples, including gold ornaments and idols, money, mobile phones and televisions, Enamul said thieves and dacoits blessed by the rally organisers were to blame for that.
Speaking at a rally at Gouro Temple at Mohakhal Para Rana Dasgupta said, “We know what probe bodies actually do.”
He demanded formation of a judicial probe committee to determine the role of the police and the local administration, and to bring the perpetrators to book.
“One reason behind the attack was to occupy Hindu people’s land by driving them out of the country,” he said.
Sultana Kamal said everyone knew who organised the rallies.
“Then why the perpetrators have not been identified yet?” she questioned.
She also questioned the role of the police and the local administration.
“We don’t have any confidence in the enquiry teams formed by the police and the local administration as their roles are questionable.
“We doubt whether we will get to see the reports of the probe bodies… We demand that the government form a judicial probe body and another fact-finding committee comprising civil society members,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a stupefying statement, Awami League lawmaker and Fisheries Minister Sayeedul Haque yesterday described the incidents of looting as “not that serious”.
“There were only one or two incidents of looting. Things were certainly under control … It were journalists who blew it out of proportion,” he said.
The Brahmanbaria-1 MP also defended the response by the local administration and police.
“The local administration and police took necessary measures at the right time and the situation is now totally under control,” he claimed while talking to reporters at the Zila Parishad Dak Bungalow at Nasirnagar.
The minister went to his constituency three days after the attack, but was yet to visit the affected areas as of last night.
His version of the event is in complete contrast with that by police, witnesses and journalists who visited the area.
After the attack, Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman told The Daily Star, “Around 150 to 200 locals attacked five temples in Nasirnagar upazila and vandalised seven to eight idols. They also vandalised homes and injured two people.”
Witness accounts and photos and videos run by the media show extensive damages to many homes and temples and signs of looting.
The attackers ran amok through eight Hindu localities, including Kashipara, Daspara, Ghoshpara, Duttapara and Nomoshudropara over a Facebook post from the account of a Hindu youth “hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims”, Abdul Quader, officer-in-charge of Nasirnagar Police Station, had said after the incident.
He was withdrawn from the post yesterday over negligence in duty.
Source: The Daily Star
