The disgraceful attacks on a Hindu temple in the Bangram village of Pabna this weekend are a sobering reminder of the ease with which small groups of people can instigate fear and violence in the wider community. Law enforcement authorities should support the public by creating a climate that allows perpetrators of this violence to be swiftly brought to justice.
As in Ramu last year, where mobs looted and burned down ancient Buddhist temples, the violence and attacks on minority communities were reportedly sparked by rumours of abusive posts on the internet.
Whatever the content of such posts, it is clear in both cases that the real catalyst was extreme elements inciting communal hatred against minority communities. The posts in question were merely a pretext.
Some policy-makers have suggested clamps on the internet to prevent such posts. This is poor reasoning not least because web pages can easily be faked and rumours made up and incitement inflamed without the internet.
Minority communities need practical support to dissuade and prevent further such attacks. Timely investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators and inciters of violence is the most urgently required action.
Also, police and local officials need to be held to account if they fail to take appropriate action to uphold rule of law and quell outbreaks of this type, as took place once again this past Monday on the Hindu community in Lalmonirhaat, in which 15 villagers were beaten, and 40 homes raided and valuables looted.
Above all, government and all political parties need to work together to stamp out encouragement for any form of violence and communal disharmony.