Villagers of Char Aicha in Barisal are living in fear of more violence and hostility after the weekend arson attack on the homes of a minority Hindu community following the killing of a local student.
Many residents of the affected village under Charkawa union in sadar upazila have left their homes, allegedly to avoid police harassment as a tense situation was prevailing in the area, local UP chairman Monirul Islam Chhobi said on Sunday.
The volatile situation arose after a college student, Parvez Gazi, was stabbed to death and three others were injured in a brawl on Thursday night. In a retaliatory attack the next morning, assailants set fire to 16 houses and two temples belonging to the Hindu community in Nomo Para.
“We are trying to convince the affected people to return to their homes,” said Azizul Huq Akkas, sadar upazila chairman and president of BNP’s upazila unit.
ATM Mujahidul Islam, deputy commissioner (south) of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said they had opened a police camp in the area to ensure the safety and security of the residents.
Meanwhile, 25 detained suspects were sent to jail on Sunday under section 54, which allows arrest without a warrant.
However, no case has yet been filed in connection with the killing or the arson attack, said Rezaul Islam, officer-in-charge of Barisal Bandar police station.
Local leaders of opposition BNP, led by lawmaker Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, visited the area and met with the affected Hindu households and Parvez Gazi’s family on Sunday noon.
The BNP leaders expressed their solidarity with the victims and demanded the arrest of those responsible for killing Parvez and the subsequent attack on the Hindu community.
They assured all sorts of cooperation to rehabilitate the minority families, who have become homeless after the torching of their houses.
Shohidul Islam, deputy commissioner of Barisal, said the local administration had already begun arelief operation, distributing cash, food grains and building materials among the victims.
In the meantime, students formed a human chain in front of the Ashwini Kumar Hall in Barisal city on Sunday, demanding the arrest of Parvez’s killer and the real perpetrators of the arson attack.
