2 remanded over Buddhist monk killing

A Bandarban court yesterday placed three men on ten days remand in the case of a Buddhist monk killing in remote Naikkhangchhari upazila of Bandarban.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Abu Hanif granted five- day remand for each of them in the murder case filed by the victim's family, investigation officer Md. Anisur Rahman said.

The accused are Abdur Rahim, 25, Md Zia, 26 and Sa Mong Chak, 35.

Police said Rahim and Zia belong to the Rohingya community.

After the arrest on suspicion they were produced before the court on Monday noon seeking ten days remand for each, said the IO.

They were arrested in different raids in the early hours of Sunday but police did not disclose any further information about the investigation.

In the early morning of May 14, 73-year old Buddhist monk U Damma Oaing Cha Bhikkhu was found dead with his throat slit in his temple Baishari Upor Chakpara Natun Chandra Nirvana Bouddha Bihar. The Bihar is some 250 yards away from the nearest village Upor Chak Para where his family members live. 

A day later, police said they had arrested the trio on suspicion of involvement in the killing.

Meanwhile, Buddhist devotees and monks under the banner of several Buddhist organisations including Parbattya Bhikku Parishad, Bangladesh Sangharaj Bhikkhu Mahasabha, and Bangladesh Buddhist Federation from home and abroad protested the gruesome killing of the monk demanding immediate arrest of the killers and a proper investigation of the incident.

The leaders of the organisation also threatened a movement demanding the resignation of the home minister if he does not withdraw comments he made by next Baishakhi Purnima (May 21).