New York, March 28, 2016: Another human rights violation of the minority Hindus has come to light from Bangladesh.
These attacks on the minority Hindus were supposed to end, post the Union Parishad (UP) elections. However, not only have the attacks continued but, in fact, they have turned rather ferocious against the minority Hindus. The daily Purbanchal dated 25th March 2016 has also reported these atrocities against the minority Hindus.
Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) investigated the case and visited the Dumuria Upazila of Khulna District and met with the victims, witnesses, local leaders, local MP and Minister Narayan Chandra Chanda, local Administration D.C., S.P., Officer-in-Charge of Dumuria P.S.
All the stakeholders admitted that many houses belonging to the minority Hindus have been attacked on 23.03.2016. They also admitted that minority Hindus had their belongings looted, women and children sexually assaulted at different places and that their religious places were also desecrated.
Fulmala (30) along with her family members of Sharafpur Union cried and said that the “Muslims are threatening us to leave the country, our houses have been destroyed by them and no one till date come forward for any help.”
She also said that they were attacked as they voted in favor of the “Boat.”
Shawshani (35) a Hindu victim of Sharafpur Union said that “My tin-shed dwelling house has been broken by Muslim neighbor, but no Awami League and other political party leaders came forward to help.”
Kalpana (25) of Kalikapur Union said that “Muslims came to my house at night to rape me on the night of election held on 23.03.2016, but luckily I was saved.”
BDMW observed that more than 20 houses of Hindu families have either been damaged or partially damaged while some business centers of the minority Hindus have been destroyed.
3 women and girls belonging to Hindu community were sexually assaulted.
BDMW also asked the local administration as to why the prompt action against those perpetrators has not yet been taken.
Bangladesh police have registered 6 cases but BDMW says that the real culprits are still at large.
Several victims of the violence have fled away and have not returned due to the imposing threat by the candidates who won the election against the Awami League Candidate. BDMW is also angry at Minister Shri NarayanChandra Chanda, who overlooks the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock’s, for his failing to tackle the violence against minority communities.
