Dhaka: A temple, shops and several houses of the Hindu community have been vandalised in southwestern Bangladesh by some unidentified people over a Facebook post allegedly belittling Islam, in the latest spate of violence targeting the religious minority in the country, according to media reports.
Police fired warning shots to disperse a mob that vandalised several homes and torched one of them in Sahapara village in Narail district, reports quoted Haran Chandra Paul, an inspector, as saying. The attackers threw bricks at a temple and also broke the furniture inside the temple. Several shops were also vandalised, Daily Star newspaper reported.
Haran said a young man posted something offensive on Facebook, triggering anger among Muslims. As tension mounted over the post after Friday prayers, a group of Muslims demonstrated outside his home in the afternoon and later attacked the homes in the area.
Narail superintendent of police Prabir Kumar Roy said the law enforcement agencies were working to keep the situation under control. “We’re investigating the incident. Those responsible for the violence will face action,” he said.
Police forces were deployed in the area to prevent further violence. “After one group looted all our valuables, another group came and found our door open. As there was nothing left to loot, they set our home on fire,” Deepali Rani Saha, a local, was quoted as saying. Saha’s house was among the homes and dozens of shops that were vandalised or burnt down. Attacks on religious minorities in Muslim majority Bangladesh are increasing and many happen after rumours or fake posts spread through social media, reports said.
