2021 Bangladesh communal violence

From 13 to 19 October 2021, Muslim mobs instigated communal violence against Hindu communities across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival. More than 50 temples and makeshift worship arrangements were vandalized all over Bangladesh^[1] According to ASK aka Ain o Salish Kendra (আইন ও সালিশ কেন্দ্র) - a Bangladeshi legal aid and human rights organization; With 3,679 attacks in 9 years (between January 2013 and September 2021), Bangladesh’s Hindus at ‘regular threat’ of violence.^[2]

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The Bangladesh government deployed paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guards forces in 22 of the 64 administrative districts of Bangladesh to quell violence against the Hindu community. As of 22 October 2021, at least 11 people have been killed across the country, including 2 Hindus, in the "worst communal violence in years" as termed by The New York Times.^[3][4]

Background[]

Hindus make up 10% of Bangladesh’s 165 million population.^[5]

Bangladesh prepared for the largest religious festival of the Hindu community in the second week of October 2021. Like every year, makeshift arrangements to offer worship were set up across the country. In the morning of October 13, allegations of defaming the Muslim holy book Quran emerged from a makeshift temple in Cumilla district when reports of finding a copy of Quran on the lap of an idol was circulated through the social media platforms. As an immediate reaction the government urged people to calm down and instructed the police to investigate the incident. However, soon after the report was circulated, an angry mob started attacking local temples in Cumilla due to the lack of proper resistance from government officials. The religious tension soon transcended to other districts of Bangladesh. Few days later, a Muslim man named Iqbal Hossain was arrested by police for placing the copy of Quran on the lap of the idol at Nanua Dighir Par puja mandap in Cumilla on October 13.^[6]

Summary of dead, injured and attack on temples[]

By 22 October at least 2 hindu people were reported killed, at least over 150 others were injured and at least 80 temples(200 madapas) were damaged across Bangladesh by mobs, additionally over 100 people injured were reported from various places in several incidences. At least 4000 were charged and 400 detained by police.^[5]

Attack on Hindu temples and minority communities[]

Reports of attacks on temples, houses, shops of minorities, looting of belongings, and murder were documented in at least a dozen districts of Bangladesh mostly in the southern area, including Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Chattogram, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Narshingdi and Gazipur.

Cumilla[]

The incident started in Cumilla district where attacks were carried out on different temples from October 13 till October 16. Durga puja venue of Nanua Dighir Par and Chandmoni Kali temple became the target for the attackers soon after the rumor of demeaning Quran spread across the area. A septuagenarian Hindu man, Dilip Das, died in a hospital, succumbing to the injuries.^[4]

Chandpur[]

At least 4 people died in Chandpur when Police fired at an angry mob brought out a procession, and launched an attack on some Durga puja venue of the district, on October 13.^[7]

Ariyan Sajjad, a member of Hajiganj municipality Chhatra League, and Hridoy Hassan Zahid, the son of local Awami League leader Shahida Begum,^[8] called the local Muslims to launch an attack on temples and pandals of Hindus in protest of the "desecration of Quran" in Cumilla. A mob was gathered after the posts and swooped on the Hindu temples and pandals after a short protest.^[8]

Chattogram[]

In Chattogram, a group of zealots from a procession brought out in the Andarkilla area started throwing brickbats targeting the Jemson Hall Puja Mandap. Witnesses said as the group threw brickbats at the temple housing the mandap and tried to vandalize it, police chased them away leading to a clash between the law enforcers and the zealots. Police fired shots in the air and lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the attackers, who had brought out the procession after Juma prayers. Police said they detained around 50 protestors from the spot.^[9]

Bandarban[]

Under the leadership of a local Awami League leader, a temple and establishments owned by Hindus were attacked by an angry mob on October 14 in Lama area of Bandarban. The Lama central Hari Mandir was attacked from a rally of angry mob who were protesting the "demeaning of Quran". They also attacked the shops of Hindu people in the Lama market area. Lama Upazila Awami League general secretary Zahirul Islam addressed the mob before they started attacking the temple according to the local police officials.^[10]

Noakhali[]

The body of a man was recovered from a pond adjacent to the temple on Saturday after an attack on Begumganj's Chaumuhani in Noakhali, Bangladesh, on Friday.^[11] After receiving the Qur'an in a puja mandapa in Comilla on Wednesday, six people were killed in attacks and violence on temples and puja mandals in different parts of the country including Comilla and Chandpur.^[12] Police said a puja mandapa in Begumganj in Noakhali district was attacked and set on fire and idols were vandalized inside another temple on Friday. Local Hindu community leaders claim that the man whose body was found in the pond was killed in yesterday's attack. Three others were seriously injured in the attack and are being treated at the hospital.

Police had earlier confirmed that one person was killed in yesterday's clash at Chaumuhani in Begumganj, Noakhali. But this morning, when another body floated in the pond adjacent to the ISKCON temple in Chaumuhani, the people of the temple could recognize him. .Chinmoy Krishnadas Brahmachari, divisional secretary of ISKCON^[13] Chittagong, says the body found was named Pranta Chandra Das. He has been missing since the clashes yesterday. "We couldn't find the boy. We searched a lot at night, in the pondSince the boy had already been killed with a blow, he had been severely beaten. His body was found in the morning. Police and fire service came and rescued him, "said Mr. Das. After the body was found, people of the Hindu community took to the streets to protest.

Gazipur[]

Babul Rudra, president of the management committee of Palpara Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir in Kashimpur Bazar and president of the Kashimpur Puja Celebration Committee, said that when worshipers were worshiping at the temple after 8 am on Thursday, suddenly 'hundreds of people' attacked Lakshmi with sticksThe idol of Asura was vandalized and left.This caused panic in the area. Earlier, around 6am, 'more than three hundred people' attacked the family temple of Subal Das, a businessman from Kashimpur Paschimpara area, and the local Palpara Namabazar public temple, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zakir Hasan.^[14]

Chapainawabganj[]

The attack took place at a puja mandapa at Kharialmor Kamarpara in Monaksha union of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. A group of miscreants suddenly attacked at night, vandalizing the pandal outside the mandapa and hitting the brick, damaging a small part of the idol's face. Chapainawabganj Shibganj Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Farid Hossain, quoting locals, said more than 100 local youths suddenly attacked the temple around 9pm last night. At first they tried to vandalize the idol after vandalizing the outer pandal of the temple. But having people couldn’t do that. However, a part of the idol's face was damaged when a brick was hit at the idol. However, the main pavilion was not much damaged. The miscreants fled immediately after the attack.

Kurigram[]

Jivan Krishna Chandra Chakraborty, priest of Brahmanpara Durga Temple in West Kaludanga of the upazila, said, “Around one thousand people came from Sat Dargah Bazar at around 10:30 pm and attacked and set fire to the temple. They destroy everything, including idols. ” Kamalendu Roy, general secretary of the Hokdanga Bharatpara Public Durga Temple, said, “A group of people came with sticks at around midnight and vandalized the idol in the temple. They also attacked the house next door. Nipen Roy, president of the Nefra Durga Temple, said, “Five to seven hundred people came around 11pm and vandalized the grill, tin, idol and adjoining houses of the temple. He then set fire to the haystack.

Chittagong[]

After the Friday prayers on Friday (October 15), some worshipers came out of the Andarkilla Shahi Jame Mosque and tried to break through the gate of the adjoining JMSen Hall.^[15] The puja committee also alleged that the banner was torn down and stones were thrown at the idol. Witnesses said some worshipers gathered at the Andarkilla Shahi Jame Mosque gate after Friday prayers to protest the Comilla incident. From there they marched towards JMsen Hall. Although there was a traffic police cordon at the corner, they broke it and proceeded. They tried to break through the gate as the main gate of JMSen Hall premises was already closed.^[16] At this time, they threw stones inside and tore down various banners hung on the road and surrounding walls for worship. In the puja mandapa of JMsen Hall, women of different ages were preparing to bid farewell to the goddess with drink, oil and vermilion. When the commotion started outside, there was panic among them. The police members of the police dispersed the tear shell and dispersed the attackers. The attackers fled at this time. The attackers fled at this time. Ashish Bhattacharya, president of the Chittagong Metropolitan Worship Celebration Council, told reporters, ‘Every year the work of immersion starts from 11 am. This time the government had instructed to leave the puja mandapa for prayers after half past two in the afternoon. That is why we were waiting in the mandapa to perform religious rituals. We were attacked here just in time.^[17]

Cox's Bazar[]

On Wednesday (October 13) evening, a group of extremist miscreants along with a procession attacked and vandalized the puja mandapa of Biswas Para in Sadar Union of Pekua Upazila with provocative slogans. After receiving the news, the police reached the spot and chased the attackers. The police fired blank shots to bring the situation under control. At one point, the attackers vandalized several houses in the surrounding Hindu community as they fled. After this incident, extremists took out different processions in different areas of Pekua at night. From these processions, puja mandals and houses of Hindus in different areas including Kachari Mura Shil Para and Magnamar Shil Para of Shilkhali were vandalized and set on fire. According to the District Worship Celebration Council, extremists have vandalized six pavilions, vandalized 30 houses and set fire to one house in Pekua.

Moulvibazar[]

Shyamal Chandra Das, general secretary of Kamalganj Upazila Puja Celebration Committee, said a group of people attacked the Muidibazar Moidail Puja mandapa between 8:30 pm and 10:30 pm on Wednesday night and vandalized the idol. .Besides, arches and electric lights of Basudebpur Puja Mandap, Akhra Puja Mandap of Vrindavanpur Jagannath Jio of Patanushar Union and Bairagir Chowk Public Puja Mandap were vandalized, he said. .Munshibazar Union Parishad members Sunil Malakar and Rezaul Karim Noman said the gates of Rampur Public Puja Mandap and Narayankhet Shabdakar Academy Puja Mandap were also vandalized.^[18] Kamalganj Upazila Parishad Vice Chairman Rambhajan Kairi confirmed the vandalism of the idol at Kamarchhara Tea Garden Pujamandap. .Moulvibazar District Puja Celebration Parishad leader Jahar Tarafdar said six temples in Kamalganj and two other religious institutions in Kulaura were attacked. “In Kamalganj, by placing pots in separate places in one of the two broken temples, only the ninth puja of the goddess will be performed. .However, the situation in the district is calm at the moment. ” Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ashekul Haque said, “We are inspecting all the places. The situation is under control. The BGB has been deployed since Thursday morning to provide security to the puja mandapa. .At the same time, a large number of police have been deployed to conduct the puja peacefully. ”

Feni[]

A clash broke out on October 16 in Feni between the local Hindu community and Muslims when a group of Hindu dwellers of the district was protesting the nationwide attack on Hindu community during the Durga Puja festival. The clash left around a dozen of people from both communities injured.^[19]

Kishoreganj[]

The Sri Sri Kali temple in Kadim Maijhati village of Gundhar union of the upazila was attacked and vandalized. On Friday afternoon, a group of people came with a procession and attacked the temple. They vandalized five idols and furniture.

Rangpur[]

A group of mob set fire to around a dozen Hindu-owned houses in Rangpur's Pirganj Upazila on October 17 after an alleged post by a local Hindu boy on Kaaba went viral.^[20] Local Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders instigated the mob alleging that the post demeaned the holy place vandalized the houses, set fire, and obstructed fire-fighters to douse the fire.^[21]

It was later revealed that, Saikat Mandal, the vice-president of philosophy department Chhatra League at Rangpur's Carmichael College, had a personal conflict with a local Hindu youth Paritosh Sarkar. During the nationwide communal violence, Saikat and his followers in Bangladesh Chhatra League collaborated with the imam of a local mosque to instigate the local Muslim population to conduct the attack on Hindu villages of the area.^[21]

Government action against culprits[]

On 17 October, Bangladesh Police filed cases against over 4,000 suspects involved in the violence.^[22] However, on 30 January 2022, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh stayed judicial inquiry ordered by the High Court of Bangladesh into the communal attacks on the Hindu Community that took place in October 2021 during the Durga Puja Festival. In addition, the High Court bench, led by Judge JBM Hasan, was ordered to dispose of a petition related to attacks on communities in six districts. The appealing body of six judges, led by Judge Hasan Fayez Siddiqui, has passed the order. Subrata Chowdhury, counsel for the writ petitioner, objected to the stay order, saying, "The local administration has failed to protect Hindus and their properties and places of worship from communal attacks during last year's Durga Puja."^[23][24]

Reaction[]

On 16 October 2021, after Friday prayers, a crowd of over 10,000 Muslims from various Mosques in Dhaka took to streets, carrying banners of Islamist political parties and chanting, "down with the enemies of the Islam" and "hang the culprits". On the same day, nearby nearly 1,000 Hindus also protested against the attacks on temples and the killing of Hindus by Muslim mobs.^{[5][25][26][27]}

Bangladesh Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan stated that the incidents were pre-planned: "It appears to us that it was a motivated act instigated by a vested group. Not only in Comilla, but attempts were also made to destabilize the country previously through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar."^[22]

However, Bangladesh's Minister of Foreign Affairs AK Abdul Momen downplayed the communal violence terming most of the violent attack claims as "propaganda" and claimed "not a single temple was destroyed" during the violence but "deities or goddesses were vandalized".^[28]

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party condemned the violence against "Hindu brothers", and alleged a government conspiracy behind the attacks. He called for a non-partisan government to take power before the next elections.^[29]

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council observed a half-day strike in Chattagram in protest of the attacks on Durga Puja venue in Chattagram.^[30] The General Secretary of the organization in an interview claimed, "It is unfortunate that a majority of the grassroots leaders of the ruling Awami League are also seen joining them in conducting the attacks."^[31] He called for the "self-purification" of Awami League to prevent future attacks on minority community.^[32]

On 22 October 2021, a demonstration was done in Kathmandu, Nepal to express solidarity for the victims and demanding punishment to the perpetrators.^[33]

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was heavily criticized by regional parties for his silence over the matter,^[34] with Sheikh Hasina squarely blaming India for the rise of attacks against Muslims in India which, according to her, were responsible for these attacks.^[35]

Legacy[]

Attacks against the Hindu minority are a frequent phenomenon in Bangladesh which proclaims itself as a secular country. Many times even children are raped by the Islamists some even belonging to the ruling Awami League. According to the BJHM report in 2017 alone, at least 25 Hindu girls and children were raped with 235 temples and idols left vandalized. The total number of atrocities against the Hindu community in the year was 6474.^[36]

Earlier the same year anti-modi protests in Bangladesh quickly turned into anti-hindu riots with several vandalization of Hindu temples.^[37] With the constant attacks against Hindu community in Bangladesh, analysts believe that by 2050 "no Hindu will be left in Bangladesh".^[38]

See also[]

• Persecution of Hindus
• Anti-Hindu sentiment
• 1971 genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh
• Freedom of religion in Bangladesh
• Human rights and persecution of non-Muslims in Bangladesh

References[]