Four Days After Bangladesh Attacks, Extremists Continue Targeting Hindus
In quick succession after Hindu temples and houses were targeted in Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district, extremist gangs struck again, setting fire to homes in Madhyaparha and Dakhshinparha on Friday.
Police reported that seven houses were torched at dawn in the Upazila town. "The attackers fled after setting seven houses ablaze," said Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Muhammed Iqbal Hossain.
This latest attack has further heightened tensions in the volatile district.
On October 30, a violent mob, reportedly numbering over 3,000 local Muslims, destroyed at least 10 temples and vandalized hundreds of Hindu homes in the area. The mob’s actions followed a Facebook post from a local Hindu youth, who claimed the removal significantly impacted religious sentiment among Muslims.
The youth, Rasraj Das, a fisherman, had already apologized to Muslims after explaining his account had been hacked. Mr. Das, who supports the ruling Awami League party, was captured, beaten up, and handed over to the police by the radicals, who organized two protest rallies in response to the Facebook post on Sunday. The rallies were allegedly organized by local leaders of radical Islamist groups, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and Hefazat-e-Islam.
While the exact motives remain unclear, officials from the National Human Rights Commission visited the affected area, implying the attacks were premeditated, intended to seize land from the local Hindu population.
Additional Information:
- Facebook Post: A local Hindu youth alleged the removal significantly impacted religious sentiment among Muslims.
- Rallies: Two protests were organized by local leaders of radical Islamist groups Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and Hefazat-e-Islam following the Facebook post.
- National Human Rights Commission: Engaged in investigating the situation, accusing the attack of being aimed at grabbing land from the minority Hindu community.
