Talk Show

DHAKA Wednsday 03 October 2012, 18 Ashwin 1419, BS 16 Zilqad 1433 HIJRI
‘Ramu rampage a conspiracy’→ Staff Correspondent

 Buddhist temples, plus their neighbourhoods were burnt as a mob resorted to vandalism and arson attacks during Saturday’s violence at Ramu and Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar. The ruling Awami League (AL) held BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami responsible for the violence. On the other hand BNP accused AL of the brutality and criticised the administration for its failure to quell the violence. The electronic media of the country were also vocal on Monday night over the issue.

In a talk show on ETV, a private TV channel, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) joint secretary general Sahadat Hossain Salim blamed the Awami League for the violence in Cox’s Bazar.

He said, “I never believe that one Uttam Kumar hailing from Ramu posted derogatory remarks on religion on the facebook. The attack started at 12:00 midnight on Saturday. Agitated people again took out a procession at 10:00am on the following day and also carried out attacks on the Buddhists at Ramu. And at 2:00pm, another attack took place at Ukhia, a faraway place from Ramu. Then what was the administration doing all the time?”

Criticising the home minister and the administration, the LDP leader said, “Where is our administration? Our misfortune is that whoever takes charge of our home ministry always makes a fussy remark to become famous. While visiting Ramu, our present Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir said the local BNP lawmaker was involved in the violence whereas all newspapers on Monday reported that BNP lawmaker Lutfur Rahman Kajal tried heart and soul to pacify the agitating public.

AL leader and parliamentarian Shahriar Alam, another guest on the talk show, said, “No word is sufficient to condemn such a heinous crime. Buddhism is a symbol of peace and that the attack on its followers is a matter of shame for us as a nation.”

Central leader of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Ruhin Hossain Prince, another participant on the talk show, said, “The incident at Ramu was beyond our imagination. We have been repeatedly saying what we achieved through our liberation war is systematically being destroyed during the last 40 years through various incidents. No matter how much provocation was there, people took to the streets against the violence. We still have this positive side in our society.”

Alleging that an international conspiracy is going on in Cox’s Bazar, he said, “We know that area. Several aggressive groups are active there to destabilise the existing communal harmony of the country.”

He added: “At a time when we are to prevent this evil force, our two leading parties are doing politics centring the issue. Instead of discussing the real problem, we are accusing each other as if it is the main purpose of our politics.”