Police on suspicion arrested 25 people on Saturday in connection with the death of a youth that led to an arson attack on a Hindu locality in Barisal on Friday.
On Thursday night, locals of Nomopara, a predominantly Hindu locality in Char Kawa village, and their neighbouring village Char Aicha clashed over a badminton game that left Parvez Gazi, 20, of Char Aicha dead and three others injured. The following day, incensed villagers of Char Aicha torched the Hindu locality.
However, no case was filed in this connection till filing of the report yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, several organisations in the capital condemned the incident along with another arson attack on Hindus in Pabna.
In Barisal yesterday, Mujibor Rahman Sarwar, president of the party’s Barisal city unit visited Parvez’s family and demanded arrest of his killers and of those who torched the Hindu locality.
Many locals of Nomopara have fled and are yet to return in fear of further violence.
Meantime, students of Jhalakathi Government College, Parvez’s college, formed a human chain in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall demanding arrest of his killers.
In the capital, Samprodaikota-Jongibad Birodhi Mancha, a platform against communalism and militancy, at a human chain demanded immediate action against those who attacked minority communities in Barisal and Pabna.
On November 2, in Bonogram village in Pabna, Hindus were attacked centring a “Facebook page” in which extortionists alleged one Rajib Saha had maligned Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).
“Culprits of previous attacks on minority communities were not brought to justice, and so the attacks continue,” said Pankaj Bhattacharya, president of United National Awami Party, at the human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club.
Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, urged all to be united against communalism, militancy and fundamentalism.
Workers’ Party of Bangladesh Rashed Khan Menon urged opposition parties to take initiatives to save the minority communities. Ajoy Roy, convener of the mancha, said the attacks on minorities were planned. Dr Shahidullah Sikdar, vice president of Ganotantri Party, among others, spoke.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, in a statement, condemned the Barisal incident and demanded punishment for the culprits.
The leaders of the mancha and Bangladesh Gonotantrik Ainjibi Samity, at another programme at the mancha’s office, claimed that a local criminal gang, comprising different political activists, is responsible for the attack on the Hindus in Pabna.
Helal Uddin, organising secretary of the ainjibi samity, said BNP-Jamaat, taking advantage of the gang’s attack on Raju’s father Bablu Saha, instigated the locals to attack other Hindu families. In a press conference, he also alleged that some activists of the ruling AL were also involved in the attack. He made the remarks on the basis of an inspection carried out by some leaders of the two organisations at Bonogram village on November 8.
The organisations also made several demands including formation of a judicial probe committee for proper investigation and arrest and severe punishment for the criminals.
