We express our deepest concern over the reports of widespread vandalism, killing, arson, looting, and physical assault. The attacks, which have led to significant property damage, personal injuries, and the displacement of innocent individuals, must be met with the strongest possible response from national and international authorities.
According to news published on the Daily Prothom Alo, online version on August 6, 2024, it is learned that after the news of the Bangladesh Awami League-led government's resignation spread, there were attacks on houses, places of worship, and business establishments of religious minorities in different parts of the country on Monday, August 5, 2024. Hindu temples were attacked in Natore, Dhamrai in Dhaka, Kalapara in Patuakhali, Shariatpur, and Faridpur. Houses in Jessore, Noakhali, Meherpur, Chandpur, and Khulna were also targeted. Forty Hindu shops were vandalized in Dinajpur. Additionally, a place of worship of the Ahmadiyya community in Taraganj, Rangpur, was attacked and vandalized.
Jessore:
Fifty Hindu houses were attacked, vandalized, set on fire, looted, and robbed in Jessore from the afternoon of August 5 to the morning of August 6. Many residents have fled their homes in fear. Some eyewitnesses and house owners reported that several hundred people attacked at least 25 shops in Narikelbaria market of Bagharpara upazila on the afternoon of August 5. Twenty of these shops were owned by Hindus. The attackers ransacked the shops and looted the goods.
Bablu Kumar Saha, chairman of Narikelbaria Union Parishad (UP) of Bagharpara upazila, was attacked, and his property was vandalized yesterday evening. Later that night, 10 to 12 people entered Liton Kundu's house in Narikelbaria village with machetes and other weapons. They held the residents at gunpoint and took three bags of gold ornaments and 2,700 rupees in cash. Shimul Saha's house in the same village was attacked and vandalized this morning. The attackers demanded one lakh rupees from the residents. They later went to Narikelbaria market and vandalized at least three Hindu shops.
The attackers also attacked Andharkota village in Bagharpara upazila on Monday night, vandalizing houses and looting cows, ducks, chickens, duck eggs, rice, and electric motors.
On the night of August 5, a group of 10 to 12 people attacked Hindupara in Shalbrat village of the upazila, where 65 Hindu families live. They went to five to six houses with their faces covered and machetes in hand, demanding money from two families. They beat and injured an elderly man for not being able to pay immediately. They took three cows from one house and two goats from another.
A group of masked men attacked and looted three Hindu houses in Sekanderpur village of the upazila last night. Twenty to twenty-five Hindu houses in five villages of Dhalgram Union in Bagharpara Upazila were attacked and looted in four rounds from the evening of August 5 to the early morning of August 6, 2024.
A group of people attacked and vandalized the house of former Dhalgram UP chairman Subhash Debnath in Manikdwa village. They took two cows from the cowshed. Later that night, a group attacked the house of Dipankar Biswas in Andharkota village and vandalized it four times. Four cows, 25 ducks, 15 chickens, 40 duck eggs, two sacks of rice, and an electric motor were taken from that house. One lakh rupees were demanded from them. When the assailants did not receive the money, they kept the residents inside and set the house on fire with petrol. They saved their lives by paying Tk 50,000.
Houses belonging to Swapan Kundu, Shekhar Dhali, Aurobindo Swarnalangar, Amal Swarnalangar, and Mohant Kundu were attacked and vandalized, and gold ornaments and goods were looted. Additionally, a group attacked some houses in Rishipalli in Sultannagar village of the upazila late last night, vandalizing and looting goods.
A group of people attacked Dilip Singh's house in Amrajhuta village of Manirampur upazila on the night of August 5. They set his two-story house on fire with petrol. Earlier in the evening, a group attacked two business establishments of Dilip Singh in Khatuadanga market of the upazila, vandalizing and looting goods.
On the afternoon of August 5, a group attacked the house of Monishankar Roy of Barandi village, a member of Ward No. 6 of Payra UP of Abhaynagar Upazila, vandalizing and looting cash and gold ornaments. Monishankar Roy said the attackers entered the house by cutting the grill with an axe, causing extensive damage. They took four lakh rupees in cash and seven pieces of gold ornaments.
In the evening of August 5, attackers vandalized and set fire to the house of former Payra UP chairman Bishnupad Dutta in Barandi village. They also attacked and vandalized the houses of Robin Biswas, Yudhisthira Biswas, and Mohen Bairagi of Barandi village.
The house in Dhopadi village of Abhaynagar upazila was attacked and vandalized, with gold ornaments and goods looted.
Noakhali:
Reports of attacks, vandalism, and looting were found in three houses and four businesses of the minority community in some places in Hatia Upazila of Noakhali. Among these, allegations of assaulting and vandalizing the house of Upazila Hindu Parishad president Sahdev Saha in Sonadia of the upazila and beating women were found. Hatia Police Station and the Coast Guard were informed by phone on behalf of the victim's family, but no one responded.
Local residents reported that around 6:30 pm on August 5, 2024, a group of miscreants attacked and vandalized the houses of Dilip Saha, Lokesh Saha, and the president of the Upazila Hindu Parishad of Sonadia Union, Sahdev Saha, in Sahapara, a village adjacent to Tamaruddi Bazar. They then ransacked and looted three shops, including Ashok Saha's shop and Partha Saha's shop in Tamaruddi Bazar, around 7:30 in the evening. It has been alleged by the victim's family that the attackers are locally associated with the politics of BNP and its affiliates.
Upazila Hindu Parishad President Sahdev Saha told Prothom Alo that the attack on his house was led by local BNP workers Munna and Raju. Yesterday, his mother was also beaten apart from the vandalism of the house. The same assailants ransacked his shop at Char Chenga Bazar around 1 am today, looting goods and cash.
Dhaka:
On Monday, August 5, a violent mob attacked the residence of folk singer Rahul Ananda in Dhaka's Dhanmondi 32. The house, nearly 140 years old and a vibrant cultural hub for musicians, was looted and set on fire. Over 3,000 handcrafted musical instruments, housed within, were destroyed in the attack. The assailants broke through the main gate, ransacked the place in minutes, and then set the house ablaze, reducing years of cultural heritage to ashes.
On the evening of August 5, 2024, a group of 100 to 150 people marched and attacked the house of local Meena Rani Das in Barbaria area of Gangutia Union of Dhamrai, Dhaka. The attackers broke the main iron gate of the house and the gate to the tin room. The assailants broke all the glass windows of the three rooms next to the balcony, some chairs in front of the Durga temple, and all the glass windows of the two private cars in the garage outside the house.
Kuakata, Patuakhali:
An attack took place on the residence of Awami League Joint General Secretary Anant Mukherjee and the temple in the adjoining area of Patuakhali's Kuakata town around 4:30 pm on August 5, 2024.
Anant Mukherjee complained, "BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists took out a procession in Kuakata municipality after hearing the news of the government's resignation. The procession came towards my house, and at one point, people from the procession attacked my house. Many of the attackers entered my house and broke everything. The attackers then attacked the temple near my house, damaging the doors and windows." The residence of Kalapara Municipality Mayor Vipul Chandra Howladar was attacked around 5 pm.
Natore:
In Lalpur, Natore, six houses, including the house of the Puja Udyapan Parishad president, and a temple were vandalized and looted yesterday evening and night.
According to sources from the Jotdaibaki Shiva and Kalimandir committee of the upazila, a group attacked the house of Dipendranath Saha, the president of the Upazila Puja Udyapan Parishad and the president of the temple, around 8 pm on August 5, 2024. They vandalized the temple inside the house and looted 15 gold ornaments and one lakh rupees. They also beat three people in the house and threatened them. The attackers also vandalized five other houses and looted goods.
Kalapara, Patuakhali:
Some places of worship of the minority community were vandalized in Kalapara. On August 5, 2024, around 4 pm, Anant Mukherjee's house and temple in the adjoining area were attacked in Kuakata town of Patuakhali. Later, two temples in Nayakhalikhali and Moudubi areas of Kalapara were attacked and vandalized. Local people said that some local BNP leaders and workers were involved in these attacks.
Shariatpur:
On August 5, 2024, around 5:30 pm, a temple in the Dakshin Palong Bazar area of Palong upazila was vandalized. Raju Roy, the president of the Puja Udyapan Parishad of Palong upazila, said, "The temple was attacked, and several items were vandalized and looted. There are complaints that BNP people were involved in this."
Dinajpur:
On Monday afternoon, a violent attack took place in Chowrangi Bazaar of Bochaganj Upazila in Dinajpur, where at least 40 shops belonging to minority communities were vandalized and looted. According to eyewitness Hriday Roy from Sahaspur village, around 100 attackers, armed with sticks and sharp weapons, targeted the market.
Hriday Roy stated, "The attackers started vandalism after entering the market. Our shops have been selectively vandalized. I ran away from the shop. Later, the goods were looted in front of our eyes." When the assailants moved towards Sahaspur village, the minority community managed to stop them, leading to the attackers threatening the residents before leaving.
In another incident, the under-construction Durga Mandir and Harishava Ghar in Fultala cremation ground area of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila were also vandalized. In response, minorities have been guarding temples and Harishava Basar since Monday afternoon, with support from some Muslim residents. Additionally, mosques have been broadcasting messages to refrain from torturing and vandalizing minorities.
Uttam Roy, General Secretary of the District Puja Udyapan Parishad, reported that at least 10-15 Hindu houses were vandalized and looted across the district, causing widespread panic as threats continue to be made door to door.
Chandpur:
In Chandpur, violent attacks targeted the homes of two college principals. The house of Puranbazar Degree College principal Ratan Kumar Majumdar, located in the city's court neighborhood, and the house of Gallak Adarsh Degree College principal Haripad Das in Faridganj were both attacked, vandalized, looted, and set on fire.
Haripad Das recounted the attack, stating, "A group of people attacked our house yesterday evening. They vandalized and looted 4-5 living rooms of the house. Several pieces of furniture and a motorcycle were set on fire."
Shariatpur
In Shariatpur, a violent attack on a temple at Dhanuka Mansa House in the district town led to significant damage. Yesterday, miscreants demolished the temple, taking away some furniture. The temple, which was constructed last March with the help of the district administration on land reclaimed from illegal occupation, was targeted around 9 PM.
Leaders of the Dhanuka Mansa Bari Mandir Committee reported that the attackers, armed with sticks and sharp weapons, vandalized the tin and brick structure of the temple, including the Krishna idol, over a two to three-hour rampage. Govinda Chakraborty, General Secretary of the Dhanuka Mansa Bari Mandir Committee, shared, "During the attack, we could not leave the house due to fear. The attackers surrounded our house from all sides to vandalize it. Army personnel rescued us."
Khulna:
In Khulna, a wave of attacks targeted at least 11 Hindu homes across different unions in Dakop Upazila over the past two days. Many of the victims are linked to the Awami League, heightening the tension in the area.
The first wave of violence struck the residences of prominent figures such as Upazila Banishanta UP Chairman Sudev Kumar Roy, UP Member Jayant Kumar Gain of Amtala Village, and former Youth and Sports Affairs Secretary of Upazila Awami League, Sanjeev Mandal, in East Khejuria Village. Mandal described the attack on his home, stating, "Miscreants attacked my house around one o'clock today. After that, the chairman's house was ransacked extensively."
Other victims included Kailasganj UP Chairman Mihir Kumar Mandal in Ramnagar Village, Bidhan Mandal of Dhopadi Madhyapara, Kamarkhola UP Chairman Panchanan Kumar Mandal in Vitabhanga Village, former Tildanga UP Chairman Ranjit Kumar Mandal of Kaminibasia Village, and Nitya Ranjan Kaviraj, General Secretary of Tildanga Union Awami League, in Botbunia Village. Their homes were also vandalized and looted.
In Koira Upazila, school teacher Arvind Mandal's house in Gariabari Village was vandalized, along with that of Sujit Roy. Roy recounted, "Since yesterday afternoon, I have been getting news of vandalism of the houses of Awami League leaders in Koira Upazila Sadar. I was already afraid. Then in the evening, a group came to attack my house. We moved to another house, but as I left, I heard the sound of vandalism. Starting from the rice, the furniture inside the house was broken."
Former Maheshwaripur UP Chairman Vijay Kumar Sardar's house was also attacked and set on fire. Eyewitnesses reported that around 10 AM today, a group armed with sticks, rods, iron pipes, and petrol attacked, looted, and then set the furniture on fire.
Faridpur:
In Faridpur, a series of attacks targeted Hindu houses and businesses in the regions of Madhukhali and Sadarpur. The violence began yesterday evening, with several key incidents reported.
In Madhukhali's Bamundi Village, home of village doctor Uttam Kumar Roy, his residence, pharmacy, and the attached Kalimandir were attacked and vandalized around 8 PM. Dr. Roy recounted that he was working at his medicine shop in Bamundi Bazar when a crowd of 18-35 year-olds arrived to assault him. The attackers had previously targeted the pharmacy of homeo doctor Manoj Kumar Biswas, who was beaten during the attack. Meghchami UP Chairman Sabbir Uddin Sheikh and Madukhali Sugar Mill Workers Union President Shahin Mia intervened, rescuing Dr. Roy and bringing him to safety. Later, Dr. Roy and his family went into hiding as the attackers vandalized and looted his home, breaking the idols of Hari Tagore and Shanti Mata in the house temple. Dr. Roy expressed his frustration, stating, "Who will I ask for justice?"
In Bagat Union, Archana Bose's cloth shop was set on fire in the Bagat Bazar area, located on the Bagat-Naopara road. Nearby, the house of school teacher Sanjay Kumar Das in Sitarampur Village was vandalized and looted, along with Rajkumar Misthanna Bhandar's shop in Bagat Bazar. Additionally, Biplab Sahar's flour mill near the Madukhali-Naopara road was attacked and vandalized.
In Sadarpur Upazila, Subir Kumar Sahar's drug store and Tarun Sahar's grocery store in Hat Krishnapur market were similarly attacked and vandalized on 05 August night.
Rangpur:
In Taraganj, the place of worship of the Ahmadiyya community was attacked and vandalized. Abdul Haque, the president of the Ahmadiyya community in Taraganj, said, "We were attacked, and the place of worship was vandalized. The attackers threatened us."
Mr. Robert Simon, Chief Adviser of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) states: "These acts of violence are not only attacks on individuals but on the very fabric of human dignity and coexistence. The international community must unite in condemning these atrocities and taking concrete steps to ensure justice and safety for all affected."
He also asserts: "The recent attacks are a stark reminder of the fragility of peace and tolerance. We must ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that the victims receive the support and protection they deserve. Our collective responsibility is to restore security, provide compensation, and foster an environment where every individual can live without fear of persecution."
In light of these atrocities, JMBF calls for the following actions:
1. Immediate Investigation and Prosecution: We urge the United Nations to initiate an independent, transparent investigation into these incidents. The perpetrators must be identified and held accountable through rigorous legal processes. The involvement of international observers may be necessary to ensure the impartiality and effectiveness of the investigation.
2. Exemplary Punishment: Those responsible for orchestrating or participating in these violent acts should face exemplary punishment in accordance with international human rights laws. It is essential that justice is not only served but also perceived to be served, to deter future violence.
3. Compensation for Victims: The affected communities and individuals must receive appropriate compensation for the damages suffered. This includes financial restitution for property losses, medical care for injuries, and support for those displaced by the violence.
4. Stopping Violence and Ensuring Security: Immediate steps must be taken to halt the ongoing violence and restore order. The authorities must deploy adequate security measures to protect minority communities and prevent further attacks.
5. Promoting Tolerance and Coexistence: Long-term measures should be implemented to foster a culture of tolerance and mutual respect among different religious and ethnic groups. Education programs and community dialogues can play a crucial role in bridging divides and promoting peaceful coexistence.`
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in solidarity with the affected communities and appeal to the global community, including the United Nations, human rights organizations, and governments, to take immediate and effective action to ensure that such violations are met with justice and that measures are put in place to protect vulnerable communities from future attacks.
Thank you
Advocate Shahanur Islam
Founder President
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
Email: info@jmbf.org | Web: www.jmbf.org
Phone: +33(0)783952315
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