The government seems to be sincere about rehabilitating the victims, rebuilding the homes and temples, and punishing the criminals. I hope their words would translate into real actions.
Unfortunately, that would not be enough for a civilized Bangladesh. I have no doubt that this wave of barbaric atrocities would make some Buddhists decide to leave the country to be sure that they would not be victimized like this again. Of course, historically for most of this kind of atrocities, the government's initial words were generally not as good as this time around. If the government's words this time around do not translate into real actions, that would be as hopeless as before.
Sukhamaya Bain
================================================ From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2012 6:50 PM
Subject: [mukto-mona] Muslim protesters torch Buddhist temples, homes in Bangladesh
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2012 6:50 PM
Subject: [mukto-mona] Muslim protesters torch Buddhist temples, homes in Bangladesh
Muslim protesters torch Buddhist temples, homes in BangladeshReuters – 5 hrs ago
Related Content
 Enlarge Photo A Bangladeshi Buddhist woman takes …  Enlarge Photo Bangladeshi Buddhist monks protest …  Enlarge Photo Bangladeshi Buddhist monks form … COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Hundreds of Muslims in Bangladesh burned at least four Buddhist temples and 15 homes of Buddhists on Sunday after complaining that a Buddhist man had insulted Islam, police and residents said. Members of the Buddhist minority in the Cox's Bazar area in the southeast of the country said unidentified people were bent on upsetting peaceful relations between Muslims and Buddhists. Muslims took to the streets in the area late on Saturday to protest against what they said was a photograph posted on Facebook that insulted Islam. The protesters said the picture had been posted by a Buddhist and they marched to Buddhist villages and set fire to temples and houses. Police said they had deployed extra security forces and banned gatherings in Buddhist-dominated areas. "We brought the situation under control before dawn and imposed restrictions on public gatherings," said Salim Mohammad Jahangir, Cox's Bazar district police superintendent. Many people in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh have been angered in recent days by a film made in California that mocks the Prophet Mohammad. Muslims in Bangladesh and beyond have also been outraged by violence over the border in Myanmar where members of the majority Buddhist community clashed with minority Muslims this year. Police had escorted the man accused of posting the insulting photograph and his mother to safety, Jahangir said. Sohel Sarwar Kajal, the Muslim head of the council in the area where the arson took place, said he was trying to restore communal peace. "We are doing everything possible to quell tension and restore peace between the communities," he told reporters. (This story corrects "Bazaar" to "Bazar" in sixth paragraph) (Reporting by Nurul Islam; Writing by Anis Ahmed; Editing by Robert Birsel) |
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