BANGLADESH: People of Hindu Community come under attack during a religious meeting in Chandpur 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a Hindu community was attacked by a group of Muslims during a religious programme being held by the Hindus. This took place at the Hijlakandi village under Matlab North police station in Chandpur district.

The attackers also demanded money from the Hindus for hosting rituals in the village. Twelve people were assaulted, the jewelry of a woman was snatched and materials being used in the rituals were broken by the attackers.

Meanwhile, the victims lodged a case with the local police station regarding this issue. The local elites of both communities are putting their efforts into host a reconciliation programme among the people of the communities.

In light of this situation, the AHRC is calling on you to write to the relevant authorities seeking their intervention in this matter. All responsible persons must be charged and brought before a court of law. In regard to religious tolerance it is the responsibility of the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that religious minorities are protected against intimidation and threats. Thus, please ask the Bangladesh government to introduce legislation that will ensure that religious minorities are protected and treated fairly. A step towards achieving this would be to repeal the discriminatory laws against ethnic minorities.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victims:
1. Pradip Chandra Sutradhar, son of Kirtibas Sutradhar
2. Rajindra Chandra Sutradhar, son of the late Chintaharan Sutradhar
3. Haradhan Chandra Kirtanya, son of the late Mukund Chandra Kirtanya
4. Dulal Chandra Kirtanya, son of the late Anukul Chandra Kirtanya
5. Thakur Das Bepari, son of the late Surendra Chandra Bepari
6. Sudhangsha Chandra Sutradhar, son of the late Trani Sutradhar
7. Kanai Lal Sutradhar, son of the late Khirod Mohon Sutradhar
8. Ram Prasad, son of Jyotish Sutradhar
9. Amrit Lal, son of the late Digun Chandra Sirkar
10. Raju Bala, wife of the late Ramesh Chandra Pradhanya
11. Kajol Rani Sutradhar, wife of Jabinash Chandra Sutradhar
12. Kanika Rani Sutradhar, wife of Priyolal Sutradhar
(All living in the Hijlakandi village, P.O. Durgapur, under Matlab North police station in Chandpur district).
Name of alleged perpetrators:
1. Md. Hannan Dhali (40), son of the late Kalu Dhali
2. Md. Anis Mian (28), son of the late Abdul Mannan
3. Md. Zahir Dhali (21), son of Hannan Dhali
4. Md. Shahabuddin Dhali (18), son of Hannan Dhali
5. Md. Sohel Mian (20), son of Sobhan Mian
6. Md. Jisan Mian (19), son of Sahjahan
7. Md. Nazrul Islam (18), son of Sahidulla
8. Md. Liton Mian (18), son of Rabiullah
9. Md. Shahjahan (44), son of the late Panjab Ali
(All living in the village Hijlakandi, P.O. Durgapur, under Matlab North police station in Chandpur district).
Place of incident: The house of Pradip Chandra (one of the victims)
Date of incident: 31 October 2005, at 11pm

Case Details:

On 31 October 2005, the people of a Hindu community arranged a Vaishnab Sheba citation programme, as part of rituals, in the yard of the house of Kirtibas Chandra Sutradhar at Hizlakandi village under Matlab North police station in Chandpur district. At around 11.00pm, a group of Muslims from the same village attacked them. One Abdul Hannan led the attackers in the disturbance of offering prayer of the holy Lailatul Baraat (Shab-e-Baraat). The attackers then claimed Taka twenty thousand from Kirtibas. When he refused to pay the money they started beating the worshipers attending the ritual. At least twelve people, including three women, were injured. The attackers ransacked the materials that were being used for the ritual, and also snatched ornaments from the necks of the women.

The victims alleged that the attackers verbally abused them for playing drums and other musical instruments and snatched a gold chain from the neck of Kanika Rani. The senior police officials of the district visited the spot after two weeks. The Hindu community lodged a case with the local police station ten days after the incident took place.  They also claimed that they came under attack by the same group of people twice before this incident.

However, the alleged attackers termed the allegation of beating the Hindu community people untrue. They told a fact-finding team from the Centre for Fact-Finding and Research (CHFR) that they requested the Hindus to reduce the sound of their musical instruments as the drums hampered their prayer on the holy night of Shab-e-Baraat. At one stage, one person from the Hindu community had shone a torch in the eyes of one Anis belonging to the Muslim community, which triggered a hustle between the two groups.

Meanwhile, the wider Muslim community said there was no problem in the Hindu’s performing their prayers simultaneously with the Muslims. They also mentioned that a group led by Abdul Hannan Dhali of the same village disturbs the people of both communities in the locality.

The police following the intervention of both the ruling and opposition political party leaders have arrested two people. Both the communities are now discussing the incident as a means of reconciliation.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter immediately to the Inspector General of Police and the other persons listed below expressing your concern about the attack on the minority people, the assault of twelve persons, including three women and the theft of jewelry. Please ask them to take prompt action in investigating the conduct of the attackers and to ensure that justice is attained for the victims of the Hindu community.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER