Police are yet to file a charge sheet in the case filed over the vandalizing of a Puja mandap in Comilla’s Nanuardighi, that triggered countrywide violence nine months ago.
On October 13, 2021, the country saw massive communal violence over the Holy Quran being placed on a Puja mandap. The incident sparked a number of communal attacks on the minority Hindu community in several districts including Chandpur, Noakhali and Chittagong, ruining the Durga Puja celebrations.
A few days after the incident, police arrested one Iqbal Hossain, who was identified from video footage of security cameras installed around the Durga Puja pavilion in the Nanuardighi neighborhood.
A case was filed against him and it was subsequently handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on October 14.
In fact, police filed as many as 12 cases over the violence reported around Comilla. However, the charge sheet for only two cases has been submitted while Iqbal’s case and that of nine others are still under investigation, much to the dismay of Hindu leaders.
Apart from Iqbal, the rest of the accused are out on bail, confirmed CID Inspector Mohammad Abdul Hakim, also the investigating officer in the case.
Ikram Hossain aka Rezaul Haque, Ashiqur Rahman, Humayun Kabir and former mayor Monirul Haque Sakku’s former assistant Mohiuddin Ahmed Babu are currently out on bail.
Although Iqbal is currently in jail, police have been unable to submit a charge sheet against him despite nine months having elapsed.
Responding to queries on the matter, Inspector Hakim said: “Our investigation is done but the case was filed under Section 295 of the Penal Code, which is bailable.”
“We have already appealed to the home ministry’s Law Division-2 through the court and the district administration to change the section,” he added.
According to Section 295 of the Penal Code: “Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”
The CID official said that police have appealed for the case to be tried under Section 295A, which is non-bailable.
Saying that they found proof against all the accused, he added that the charge sheet will be submitted as soon as the appeal is approved.
Moreover, scrutinizing information, interrogating the accused and forensics of the CCTV footage also delayed investigations, he said.
Among the 12 cases, CID is investigating six cases and has submitted the charge sheet of the case filed under the Digital Security Act, charging seven people.
On the other hand, PBI is investigating four cases and has submitted the charge sheet of one case charging a lone man, confirmed PIB Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman.
Two more cases are under investigation under Comilla Kotwali Model Police, OC Shahidur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune.
According to court inspector Md Mujibur Rahman, a total of 94 people have been accused in the 12 cases and 150 were arrested as suspects. He was unable to say how many people are behind bars at the moment.
However, a reliable source told Dhaka Tribune that other than Iqbal, only one other accused is currently behind bars.
Foyez Ahmed was arrested under the Digital Security Act over a Facebook live on October 13 regarding the Holy Quran incident.
“These incidents are being repeated only because justice is not being served,” said Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikkya Parishad Comilla unit President Chandan Rai.
He added that if those responsible for the Comilla incident had been brought to book, no one would have dared repeat such incidents.
“Unless justice is served, these incidents will be repeated,” he said.
“We were able to win the Independence War because we were united as Bangalis. We got freedom. But today, in a free country, Hindus are being attacked repeatedly,” he lamented.
Following the incident in Comilla, violence broke out at several districts in Bangladesh during the Durga Puja celebrations in October 2021.
At least seven people were killed over the incident in different parts of the country and hundreds of Hindus lost their homes, businesses while many temples and puja venues were vandalized.