Onslaught of Hindus in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) Dhaka received an appeal from the Hindu victims/devotees requesting us to take initiative to protect their rights of religion and also for legal assistance in the court.

Peaceful Hindus last year on 23.11.2008 went to cremate Hindu dead bodies at their cremation ground situated at Mukunda Patty Baneswardee Area at Nagarkanda Upazila of Faridpur District. But they had been intercepted by some Muslim perpetrators. As a result Hindus lodged general diary entry number 875 dated 23.11.2008 at Nagarkanda police station apprehending danger in future.

But again on 26.01.2009 at about 9.30 a.m. the perpetrators namely:-

1)     Sheikh Serajul (60) son of late Sheikh Abdus Sattar, 2) Showkat Sheikh (40) , 3) Yead Ali Sheik (35) sons of both Sheikh Serajul, 4) Asad Sheikh (18) son of Showkat Sheikh, 5) Sahadat Sheikh (45), 6) Wadud Sheikh (40), 7) Sarwar Sheikh (35), all of late Sattar Sheikh  and  *8) Mintu Mollah (40) son of late Amjad Mollah and more 15 to 20 persons of the same locality armed  with country-made weapons attacked Hindu temple and their cremation ground.

The perpetrators also with intent to destroy the temple and cremation ground set fire on the Kali temple and destroyed the deity- Ma Kali. As a result of burning the deity Ma Kali burnt into ashes substantially. The cost of temple burnt with other belongings would be around Taka 50,000/-. When the fire broke spread out in the locality the Hindu communities came forward for protection of their temple and deities, but in the meantime their temple and deities burnt to ashes and the perpetrators escaped.

Devotees -Monoranjan Biswas, Sawpan Kumar Mondal, Nani Gopal Biswas, Jagadish Mondal instantly informed the matter to local Chairman Khaondakar Ohidul Bari Alam who visited the spot and he tried to console Hindus.

Monoranjan Biswas being complainant of the case lodged F.I.R. at Nagarkanda police station on 27.01.2009 against those perpetrators under section 295/297/436 of Bangladesh penal code which was registered as case No. 20 dated 27.1.09.

Perpetrators surrendered before the court of Sessions Judge, Faridpur and the court granted them ad interim bail on 10.08.2009.

It is also alleged that after getting bail from the court the perpetrators again intimidating the Hindus to withdraw the case.

The matter has been reported in different news papers of Bangladesh.

A copy of F.I.R., picture of the burnt deity Ma Kali and its temple are attached herewith.

Bangladesh Minority Watch contacted with the respective Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police today on this matter. They informed me that the case has been proved and police has already submitted charge sheet against the perpetators and the matter is pending in the court of Sessions Judge,Faridpur.

Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW)  also decided to investigate the matter at the spot. Sri Rabindranath Ghosh, Senior Advocate of Bangladesh takes the task on behalf  of persecuted minority Hindus as repots came in. Reports of hindu persecution of Bangladesh mae be watched in the acclaimed site :  www.bdmw.org