Bring the culprits to book for attacks on minorities

Thirty-two citizens yesterday condemned the killings of and attacks on members of minority communities ahead of the 13th national election.

In a statement, they demanded that those responsible be brought to justice and given exemplary punishment.

The signatories said, “Based on media reports, we are observing with deep anger and concern that in the weeks leading up to the 13th national election, there have been successive planned killings, including the murder of minority citizens, and attacks on their homes and arson incidents, creating a public perception that these acts are aimed at destabilising the country before the election.”

They cited the killings of Dipu Das in Bhaluka of Mymensingh, Rana Pratap Bairagi in Jashore and Sarat Chakraborty Mani in Narsingdi. 

The citizens noted that communal harmony is a long-standing tradition in Bangladesh and that hatred against any particular religion, community, or ethnic group is rare.

They said they firmly believe domestic and foreign instigators and patrons are also backing these acts.

The signatories also said they are observing with concern that the government is repeatedly failing to conduct prompt investigations and bring those responsible for killings, attacks and arson to justice.

They placed four demands -- the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for killing minority community members and attacking and burning their homes and the identification and punishment of instigators; special measures by the interim government to protect minority homes, shops and all places of worship, including temples and churches; the issuance of special directives and increased monitoring to ensure the security of minorities and protect communal harmony; and joint initiatives by all mainstream political parties to resist such incidents by mobilising leaders, activists and supporters.

The signatories include Anu Muhammad, economist and former Jahangirnagar University professor; Sultana Kamal, rights activist; Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori; Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh; Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education; ZI Khan Panna, senior Supreme Court lawyer; Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation; Shamsul Huda, executive director of ALRD; and Md Nur Khan, rights activist. 

The other signatories are: Dhaka University professors Samina Lutfah and Sumaiya Khayer, Robayet Ferdous and Zobaida Nasreen; DU associate professor Tasnim Siraj Mahbub; senior Supreme Court lawyers Subrata Chowdhury and Tabarak Hossain; visiting professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science Swapan Adnan; BRAC University professor Ferdous Azim; Manindra Kumar Nath, acting general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, writer and researcher Pavel Partha; Saleh Ahmed, general secretary of Sammilito Samajik Andolon; lawyer and human rights activist Parvez Hashem; Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of Coast Trust; Shah-e Mobin Jinnah, executive director of CDA; Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog; Saidur Rahman, chief executive of Human Rights Cultural Foundation; rights activists Sayeed Ahmed and Dipayan Khisa; social worker Joba Talukder; researcher Ishita Dastagir; indigenous rights activist Meinthin Promila; and Hana Shams Ahmed, a PhD researcher at York University, Canada.