Dhaka: Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh arrested four people for vandalising and damaging houses, shops and the local Loknath temple of the Hindu community in the Doarabazar area of Sunamganj district earlier this month.
On Dec 3, a Facebook post by Akash Das, a resident of Sunamganj district, had sparked tension in the area. Even though he deleted the post, screenshots had spread widely, leading to violence. Local police had immediately arrested Das but due to concerns over his safety he was transferred to another station.
Police said that on that day a mob had vandalised and damaged homes, shops, and the local Loknath temple. The situation was brought under control by the district SP, DC, army, and police. Police identified the accused involved in the incident and filed a case against 150-170 people, including 12 named individuals as plaintiffs.
Those arrested in this incident are Alim Hossain (19), Sultan Ahmed Raju (20), Imran Hossain (31), and Shajahan Hossain (20).
Protect minorities: US envoy
US ambassador Eric Garcetti expressed deep concerns about the persecution of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh, saying Washington is closely monitoring the situation after the student-led July uprising unseated Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League govt in Aug. “Protecting religious minorities must be a priority, regardless of the country they reside in,” Garcetti said during a two-day visit to Dumka in Jharkhand. “We have made it very clear that religious minorities must be safeguarded worldwide.”
Hasina implicated
An inquiry commission set up by the interim govt in Bangladesh has said that it found evidence implicating deposed PM Sheikh Hasina and top-ranking military and police officials from her regime in alleged incidents of enforced disappearance.
The five-member commission of inquiry on enforced disappearances submitted an interim report titled “Unfolding The Truth” to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. The commission estimated that there would be more than 3,500 enforced disappearances. “The commission has found evidence of Hasina's involvement as the instructor in the incidents,” the press wing of the office of chief adviser said. It said the deposed premier’s defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former director general of the national telecommunication monitoring centre and sacked Major General Ziaul Ahsan and senior police officers Monirul Islam and Mohammad Harun-Or-Rashid and several other senior officials were found to be involved in those incidents.
