Dhaka, Oct 4 (bdnews24.com) -- International rights group Amnesty has slated the Sep 29-30 attacks on minority communities in the lower regions of Bangladesh and called for ensuring citizens' protection and punitive steps against the perpetrators.
In a statement dated Oct 3, the organisation's researcher in Bangladesh, Abbas Faiz, was quoted as saying, "The scale and ferocity of these appalling attacks on ethnic communities have shocked Muslims and non-Muslims alike and the entire civil society in the country."
Religious fanatics, apparently stirred by a Facebook post allegedly defaming the Quran, had attacked a Buddhist locality in Ramu. At least seven Buddhist monasteries, 30 houses and shops were vandalised, looted and torched during the overnight frenzy.
The string of violence continued the following day as similar attacks took place in Chittagong's Patia, and Cox's Bazar's Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas.
"The Bangladeshi authorities must ensure this does not happen again," said Abbas Faiz.
The perpetrators of arson attacks on temples and Buddhist villages in the south of Bangladesh must be brought to justice and steps taken to ensure ethnic minorities were protected, the organisation called.
Amnesty also called upon all political leaders of Bangladesh to publicly condemn such atrocities against the minorities and 'urge their members not to take part in such acts'.
The right organisation also said, "Reports that police failed to ensure protection for minority communities - even though they had received news about imminent attacks – are disturbing, and must be investigated."
The High Court on Wednesday ruled questioning the inactivity of law enforcers and their failure to protect the citizens, and ordered relevant authorities to ensure security to all religious establishments – mosques, churches, pagodas and temples.
The Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of Cox's Bazaar district, and the Officer in Charge of Ramu Police Station were asked to reply to the rule within two weeks.
The High Court bench also ordered the probe committee, formed by the government to investigate Ramu mayhem, to submit its report to the court within Oct 17.
"The terms of reference for the investigation, called for by the Home Minister, must be made public and strong measures must be put in place to protect Buddhist, Hindu and all other witnesses who give evidence," Faiz said quoting Chittagong's Deputy Inspector General of Police, who told them that they had launched a probe into allegations that the Officer in Charge of the Ramu police station in Cox's Bazar had neglected his duty in ensuring the safety of minority communities.
"Those identified as responsible for the attack should be brought to justice in adherence to international fair trial standards and all people affected by the violence must be provided with
shelter and assistance to rebuild their homes and places of worship," the statement said.
bdnews24.com/rn/nir/1426h
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