Bomb Attack on Baniarchar Church
'Bring attackers to book'
Staff Correspondent
Different socio-cultural organisations gathered at a rally yesterday demanding that persons involved in bomb attacks across the country be brought to book immediately.A number of bomb attacks took place across the country so far but the criminals are still moving freely, the speakers said at the rally at Central Shaheed Minar in the city. Bangladesh Christian Association organised the rally to mark the three years of bomb attack at Baniarchar church in Gopalganj. Ten people were killed and 30 others injured in the bomb blast on June 3, 2001. The speakers said three years have elapsed after the bomb attack at Baniarchar church, but the culprits are still escaping justice. The government has miserably failed to nab the real culprits through proper investigation, they said, adding that the government's failure has encouraged other attackers. The speakers also condemned the bomb attack at Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet and demanded exemplary punishment to the criminals. Presided over by Promod Mankin MP, the rally was addressed by Prof. Kabir Chowdhury, General Secretary of Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad Dr. Nim Chandra Bhowmik, General Secretary of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote Golam Kuddus and General Secretary of Bangladesh Adibashi Forum Sanjib Drong. Later, the Sammilita Nagarik Samaj held another rally at the same venue demanding arrest of and punishment to those involved in bomb attacks and in the killing of Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master. The Nagarik Samaj leaders also demanded immediate arrest of Bangla Bhai, dreaded operation commander of Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh, and urged the people to unite to resist the growing fundamentalism. Speaking at the rally, Prof. Kabir Chowdhury said the country is now passing through a critical period because of alarming law and order downslide. The religious fanatics have spread their activities across the country with the patronisation of the ruling alliance, tarnishing the image of the country abroad, he added. "We do not want to see Bangladesh as a 'moderate Muslim country' but as a secular country," he said. President of Dhaka University Teachers' Association Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, journalist Kamal Lohani and justice KM Sobhan also spoke.
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