The joint forces’ move to arrest culprits fomenting and sustaining acts of violence against Awami League leaders and members of Hindu community in Satkhira proved too inadequate to allay fears in the minds of the victims, many of whom were yet to return home.
Many of the affected, who were on the run since the start of violence early this year, said they still felt insecure and suspected fresh eruption of violence ahead of the national elections.
The Dhaka Tribune recently interviewed a number of people to know how they view the post-conflict situations in the district. Their overriding concern appeared to be with the lack of development in arresting the Jamaat-Shibir leaders with suspected links to the attacks.
They alleged that most of the leaders and activists of the Islamist party and its student wing were still at large, with the number of arrests made quite insignificant. Those arrested, they said, were mere supporters of Jamaat, not the activists directly involved with the murders and arson attacks.
It has been learnt that a number of Hindu villagers had taken shelter in India and wouldn’t return until after the elections slated for January 5. They sold their properties before going, and those who didn’t are preparing for departure in case the situation becomes volatile again.
Satkhira is one of the districts where Jamaat-Shibir activists launched targeted attacks on the leaders and activists of Awami League and Hindu people after February 28 when Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death on charges of war crimes.
After the opposition alliance started communication blockades demanding withdrawal of election schedules, the violence reached its peak, further fuelled by the execution of Jamaat leader and war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla.
Since the start of the sustained violence, several hundred people were maimed so far and at least 78 houses burnt down.
The joint forces started their raids in the district on December 16. In the last 12 days, however, they failed to arrest any known figures of the parties involved.
There are allegations against a significant number of Awami League leaders of maintaining contacts with Jamaat-Shibir leaders and securing their lives. There are also allegations that some Awami League leaders sold trees that Jamaat-Shibir activists cut down to create blockade on the roads.