Bagerhat, Bangladesh: A new report has come to light from the South Asian nation Bangladesh in which a Hindu priest named Samir Haldar (Shebait)-55 and his wife Sunita Rani Haldar were physically and sexually assaulted and later were tortured for murder.
The attackers targeted the Hindu deities and desecrated them on 15 July 2016 following which the Hindu priests and the Hindu community in the area are living in fear.
This attack took place at Ambaria which falls in the Moralgonj Upazila of Bagerhat District.
Bangladesh Minority Watch undertook the investigation and informed that these perpetrators:
1) Afzal Sheikh (28)
2) Abdul Aziz Fakir (55)
3) Babul Howlader (60)
4) Md. Babul Khan (60)
5) Ms.Parul Begum (60)
6) Ms.Surma Begum (35)
7) Ms.Sharmin Begum (32)
8) Md. Asad Khan
And more 8 to 9 unknown attackers armed with sharp objects attacked the Hindu Priest and his family and cut away valuable trees. The trees are considered sacred in Hindu religion and are considered protected among many Hindu communities.
This was done to scare the family and forcefully grab land belonging to minority Bangladesh Hindus. The perpetrators also attacked the Hindu deities and broke them and also broke down the fencing made with wood and bamboo.
On the spot for the investigation, Bangladesh Minority watch found that the Bangladesh police ‘by mistake’ did not insert the Section 295 of BPC which it has assured will now be rectified. But so far no arrests have been made by the police which raises questions.
The Hindu victims are still afraid and many have to flee to avoid being killed on the night.
Land grabbing has led to many vicious attacks on the Hindu community but due to lack of public interest, not many such incidents get reported in the nation.
A reporter who covered many such stories, Prodwip Mohanta – Special reporter of “Daily Amader Shomoy” of Bogra District has been receiving death threats against himself and his family but no culprit has been arrested. He had launched a complaint at the Shibgonj police station.
Hindu Priests in Bangladesh on target?
Hindu Priests are now on the radar of home-grown terror outfits in Bangladesh. Many Hindu Priests have started to take precautions while many have to flee from their birthplace due to lack of government’s interest in protecting them.
But to much relief, one Islamist named Ashraful Islam was earlier caught by Bogra local people for writing a threatening letter to kill Hindu Purohit at Peergacha-Bogra District on 30th July 2016.
Ashraful is the son of one Kabezuddin of Dakkhin Para Gabtoli Upazila of Bogra District in Bangladesh and is a 3rd-year college student at the Azizul Hoque College Bogra.
American Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard angered and saddened by the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh has launched a signature campaign. To check the video of her appeal and to sign the link, click here.
Don’t forget to read: Hindu Priests live under persecution, fear of death
Pic credit for feature image: Eibela.com
