Attack on minorities being politicised’

DHAKA Wednsday 10 October 2012, 25 Ashwin 1419, BS 23 Zilqad 1433 HIJR‘Attack on minorities being politicised’→ Staff Correspondent

 All the incidents of attacks on minorities, including recent one in Ramu, are being politicised due to blame game, creating a scope for the offenders to go scot-free.

Panel discussants at a talk show on Channel i, a private TV chanel, made the observation on Monday night.

Noted journalist ABM Musa said the offenders who were involved in the attack on Hindu community after takeover of power by BNP-led four-party alliance government in 2001 have not been identified and thereby punished.

All the attacks which took place in 1946, 1964 and 1950 in this sub-continent, before and after creation of India and Pakistan as separate states, were not investigated properly with offenders going unpunished, he said.

He said before independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the Pakistan government used to persecute the minorities in a preplanned way for political gain.

“But I do not see any political benefit which may have prompted Awami League or opposition BNP to commit Ramu attack. They have apparently no gain.”

Motiur Rahman, editor of daily Manab Jamin and talk show moderator, echoing ABM Musa, said any third force might benefit from the Ramu incident, but not AL and BNP.

ABM Musa called upon the Awami League and BNP leaders to stop blaming each other.

He requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to direct the Home Minister to arrest the real culprits behind Ramu attack.

Referring to Joj Mia drama in 21 August grenade attack case, the eminent journalist cautioned the government not to make any innocent person scapegoat.

“Don’t make any innocent person scapegoat on charge of instigating the attack,” he said.

Agreeing to a suggestion of the Manab Jamin editor that attacks of minorities is being politicised over the periods, Musa said “Politicisation is the best policy on the part of anybody to avoid his/her liability, responsibility and failure.”

About complications in unearthing the real culprits, Musa said it creates an impression that the opposition might have committed the attack to destabilise the government.

Asked by moderator whether the nation can hope that the real criminals will be identified by a proper investigation, Musa replied in the negative. “Have the real perpetrators of the 21 August grenade attack and journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder been brought to book yet?” he asked.

When the issue of the arrest of Hall-Mark managing director came up for discussion, Musa said mere arrest is not enough if it is not followed by recovery of public money.

He said “What is the benefit of the common people even if the Hall-Mark boss is sentenced to death without recovering the several thousand crores of taka he took from Sonali Bank through fraud.”

ABM Musa apprehended that the money might have been siphoned off abroad. The government will have to take step to bring it back, he added.