Minority groups in Bangladeshi may face attacks ahead of the upcoming general election scheduled to be held between late December and early January, fears Samprity Bangladesh.
The platform’s leaders said a concerted effort by all Bangladeshis – irrespective of their religious, social or political affiliation – is needed to tackle the situation.
“We fear that those responsible for the atrocities during the Liberation War will spring to action before the polls,” Pijush Bandyopadhyay, the organization’s convener, said at a media briefing at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
He said sinister communal forces are against the spirit of the Liberation War, the ideology of Bangabandhu, and the country’s history.
“Considering the incidents that had taken place after prior elections, we fear that such attacks will reoccur,” he added.
Pijush also called upon the Muslims of the country to stand against any such atrocities.
However, citing the example of the fewer incidents of communal violence in the recently held Durga Puja, Pijush said the country has still retained its communal harmony.
Samprity Bangladesh member Md Ali Shikder said, aside from government intervention, the people of this country need to be aware of the culprits as well.
"After announcing the election schedule, the Election Commission must assess the state of law and order in the places most vulnerable to attack on minorities," he said. "We do not want a repetition of what happened during the 2014 election."
Meanwhile, President of National Press Club Md Shafiqur Rahman said Bangladesh has set a global example of communal harmony.
"The Durga Puja was celebrated all across the country with not only religious fervour, but also with a spirit of traditionalism," he said.
He claimed that the national election would be the best example of the harmonious relationship between different religious communities.
He also warned the people of anti-Liberation War, communal and fundamentalist forces that the people will not allow them to come to power, or create anarchy surrounding the polls.
Chaired by Mamun Al Mahtab Swapnil, member secretary of Samprity, the press conference was also addressed by Dhaka University teacher Dr Asim Sarker, Principal of Dhaka's College of Christian Theology Martin Adhikari and Nuzhat Choudhury.
