Communal violence: Ministers hint at BNP-Jamaat involvement to be revealed soon
Plan of destroying communal harmony in the country made by a top BNP leader staying in London, says the information minister
A vandalized Hindu temple in Gazipur’s Kahimpur bazar on Thursday, October 14, 2021 Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 26 Oct 2021, 11:16 PMUpdate : 27 Dec 2021, 02:26 PM
Several ministers of the Awami League-led government have suggested that their political rival BNP-Jamaat was behind the recent attacks on Hindu temples, puja venues, homes, and businesses across the country.
Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan in a press dialogue with Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) on Tuesday said the instigators of the attacks on the Hindu community were well known to all and their names would be revealed soon.
“Those who’ve been arrested in the Rangpur and Noakhali vandalism cases have disclosed their (instigators) names in their confessional statements given under Section 164 of the Penal Code,” he said.
Minister Asaduzzaman said an accused in Noakhali had made a confessional statement in court where, according to local police, some 15 BNP-Jamaat men were mentioned.
In another press briefing, state minister for religious affairs Faridul Haque Khan said: “In my personal opinion, the attacks were carried out with an eye to the upcoming election to scare the Hindu community so that they could be provoked into leaving the country.”
‘Plan came from London’
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said the plan of destroying the communal harmony in the country had been made by a top BNP leader who is staying in London.
"The BNP had planned to destroy communal harmony throughout the country after holding a month-long meeting. They held the meeting in the open. But they kept the conspiracy secret. The recent plan to foil communal harmony is part of the conspiracy," he said.
He said the extremist organizations, including BNP and Jamaat, remained active in destroying the country's communal harmony with an ulterior motive to hinder development activities.
Meanwhile, police detained 44 leaders and activists of the BNP on Tuesday following a clash at Naya Paltan in the capital.
The clash broke out when the BNP leaders and activists organized a rally, to protest the recent communal riots, in front of the party headquarters, despite having no permission.
BNP leader Bulu among 15 named by suspects
Senior BNP leader Barkat Ullah Bulu has been named along with 14 other BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam men by the arrested suspects over violence against Hindus in Noakhali’s Chowmuhani, say police.
Detained Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal leader Foisal Inam Komol admitted during questioning that Bulu along with other BNP and Jamaat leaders instigated the attacks, Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Shahidul Islam said in a media call on Tuesday.
He added that another arrestee admitted to looting Tk135,000 from the Ram Thakur Temple located on Chowmuhani Bank Road on the day of the attack.
13 more remanded in Rangpur
Of the 69 arrested so far, 13 more accused have been placed on a three-day remand in a case filed over the attack on the Hindu community in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur last week.
Investigating Officer (IO) and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirganj Thana Mahbub Rahman submitted a seven-day remand plea before a court on Tuesday against the 13 accused persons in a case of arson attacks, looting and vandalism.
After hearing the plea, Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Fazle Elahi granted remand for three days for each of the 13 accused persons.
Meanwhile, two more Shibir activists were arrested on Sunday night from their village homes in Sadullapur of Gaibandha on charges of carrying out arson attacks and violence.
The arrested Shibir activists are Abdullah Al Mamun, 23, and Omar Farooq alias Tonet, 24.
8 more arrested over Noakhali violence
Police have arrested eight more suspects for allegedly instigating communal violence, vandalizing and torching temples in the Chowmuhani area of Begumganj upazila in Noakhali.
Among the suspects, three were leaders and activists of the BNP, Noakhali Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahidul Islam said.
Communal violence: Ministers hint at BNP-Jamaat involvement to be revealed soon
Several ministers of the Awami League-led government have suggested that their political rival BNP-Jamaat was behind the recent attacks on Hindu temples, puja venues, homes, and businesses across the country.
Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan in a press dialogue with Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) on Tuesday said the instigators of the attacks on the Hindu community were well known to all and their names would be revealed soon.
“Those who’ve been arrested in the Rangpur and Noakhali vandalism cases have disclosed their (instigators) names in their confessional statements given under Section 164 of the Penal Code,” he said.
Minister Asaduzzaman said an accused in Noakhali had made a confessional statement in court where, according to local police, some 15 BNP-Jamaat men were mentioned.
Also Read - Comilla Carnage: CID points finger at political figures
In another press briefing, state minister for religious affairs Faridul Haque Khan said: “In my personal opinion, the attacks were carried out with an eye to the upcoming election to scare the Hindu community so that they could be provoked into leaving the country.”
‘Plan came from London’
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said the plan of destroying the communal harmony in the country had been made by a top BNP leader who is staying in London.
"The BNP had planned to destroy communal harmony throughout the country after holding a month-long meeting. They held the meeting in the open. But they kept the conspiracy secret. The recent plan to foil communal harmony is part of the conspiracy," he said.
He said the extremist organizations, including BNP and Jamaat, remained active in destroying the country's communal harmony with an ulterior motive to hinder development activities.
Also Read - 44 BNP men detained after BNP, police clash in city
Meanwhile, police detained 44 leaders and activists of the BNP on Tuesday following a clash at Naya Paltan in the capital.
The clash broke out when the BNP leaders and activists organized a rally, to protest the recent communal riots, in front of the party headquarters, despite having no permission.
BNP leader Bulu among 15 named by suspects
Senior BNP leader Barkat Ullah Bulu has been named along with 14 other BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam men by the arrested suspects over violence against Hindus in Noakhali’s Chowmuhani, say police.
Detained Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal leader Foisal Inam Komol admitted during questioning that Bulu along with other BNP and Jamaat leaders instigated the attacks, Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Shahidul Islam said in a media call on Tuesday.
He added that another arrestee admitted to looting Tk135,000 from the Ram Thakur Temple located on Chowmuhani Bank Road on the day of the attack.
13 more remanded in Rangpur
Of the 69 arrested so far, 13 more accused have been placed on a three-day remand in a case filed over the attack on the Hindu community in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur last week.
Also Read - Police: BNP leader Bulu among 15 named by Noakhali communal attack suspects
Investigating Officer (IO) and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirganj Thana Mahbub Rahman submitted a seven-day remand plea before a court on Tuesday against the 13 accused persons in a case of arson attacks, looting and vandalism.
After hearing the plea, Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Fazle Elahi granted remand for three days for each of the 13 accused persons.
Meanwhile, two more Shibir activists were arrested on Sunday night from their village homes in Sadullapur of Gaibandha on charges of carrying out arson attacks and violence.
The arrested Shibir activists are Abdullah Al Mamun, 23, and Omar Farooq alias Tonet, 24.
8 more arrested over Noakhali violence
Police have arrested eight more suspects for allegedly instigating communal violence, vandalizing and torching temples in the Chowmuhani area of Begumganj upazila in Noakhali.
Among the suspects, three were leaders and activists of the BNP, Noakhali Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahidul Islam said.