It is despicable and intolerable that such racial and religious attacks are taking place in Bangladesh in this day and age. To attack Hindus just because they are the minority by some rowdy elements of the majority group is nothing by vandalism and such vandals must be brought to books.The government of Bangladesh must take immediate steps to stop such heinous crimes and carry out inquiry to find out the criminals and punish them severely. Such attacks not only destroy the harmonious relations between the communities but also bring shame on the country. We, the Bangladeshi descendants living abroad, must do something to stop such behaviour of rowdy criminals on decent members of the public. Hindus are as much Bangladeshis as Muslims are. We must fight such vices together.
- AR
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 5 November 2013, 17:58
Subject: [mukto-mona] Fw: Bangladesh :Religious Minority (Hindu Families) attacked again on 04.11.2013 at Lalmonirhat District for extorting money: BDMW investigating : Urgent Action Needed. [4 Attachments]
On Tuesday, November 5, 2013 10:14 AM, Rabindra Ghosh <ghosh.minoritywatch.rabindra@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi All,
Hindu Community under attack again at Lalmonirhat District on 04.11.2013 ( The Daily Star, The Dhaka Tribune, The Sangbad dated 5.11.2013.)
Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) received an appeal from the Hindu victim Mr.Nikhil Chandra Roy of village Satbatitiki of Mazipara of Lalmonirhat district requesting us to render legal assistance on the incident of communal attack on them for extortion of money on the allegations that at least 15 Hindus including nine male and six female were injured, 40 houses raided, four of them damaged and valuables worth as not yet unknown amount were looted during the attack by Muslim perpetrators. Many frightened families fled to neighboring villages after the attack.
Name of the victim: Sri Nikhil Chandra Roy,
Sri Paresh Chandra Roy
Sri Bakul Chandra Roy
Sri Punna Nath Roy,
Sri Ukhil Chandra Roy,
Sri Narayan Chandra Das
Case Number : Lalmonirhat Sadar P.S. case No.5 dated 4.11.2013 under section 143/448/323/307/385/386/427/34 of Bangladesh Penal code.
Date of occurrence: 4th November, 2013 at about 12.30 p.m
Nature of offence: Extortion of money, physical assault, damaging properties and looting of wealth.
Name of the perpetrators: 1) Mohammad Shawn Ali (25) son of Md. Maznu Meah,
2) Md. Alamgir (25) sonof Abu Taher
3) Md. Maznu Meah(50) son of Late Wahid
4) Abu Taher (45) son of not known.
5) Badsha (48) son of Md. Solaiman.
6) Md. Solaiman (70) son of not known, and more 10 to 12 unknown persons.
Permanent address of the perpetrators: All of village Satpatki Majihipara, P.S. Lalmonirhat Sadar- Lalmonirhat district.
The incident took place on 04.11.2013 around 12.30 p.m. at the Satpatki Majihipara village of Mohendranagar Union in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila. The injured minority victims were admitted to the Lalmonirhat general hospital, but despite deployment of additional security personnel the atmosphere in the village remains electric with the villagers anticipating a repeated attack.
Mr.Jamiruddin –Officer in Charge of Lalmonirhat Sadar police station confirmed the report of attack and said many men, women and children of the village had taken shelter in neighboring Muslim households and had not returned home since.
According to several victims, pro-strike activists of BNP, led by local Jatiyatibadi Dal cadre Md.Shawn Islam, launched the attack in retaliation for refusal of some Hindu fish traders to pay tolls earlier this week. They said a group of 15-18 opposition activists, armed with locally made sharp weapons, attacked the village and forcibly entered at least 40 houses, assaulted 15 individuals and looted valuables.
Narayan Chandra Das, an affected villager said – " Md.Shawn and his cohorts demanded a toll of Taka 5,000 from each of 15 local fish traders on Sunday night, in the name of bearing strike's expenses. But they were denied. The traders apprised local BNP leader Abdul Mazid Mondol of the matter, which infuriated Md.Shawn. He took revenge on them by launching the attack on the village.
Assaulted Sumitra Rani Roy(65) said her son- Nikhil Chandra Roy, was beaten right before her eyes and her cries to spare him went unheeded. "Nikhil was beaten mercilessly by the strike supporters in my very presence, in my own home. I cried and cried but they would not stop any thing"-said Sumitra Rani Roy.
However, Abdul Majid Mondal, general secretary of BNP-Mohendranagar Unit, denied involvement of BNP activists in the attack and said he had cautioned party activists against doing any such thing.
I, on behalf of BDMW and GHRD talked with the police investigating officer Mahabubul Hasan, Sub Inspector of Police (Cell number :+01925794953) Mahabubul Hasan gave me to understand that no perpetrators has yet been arrested.
I also talked with the victim Nikhil Chandra over his cell number +01770729840 ( He is now in the Hospital as perpetrators physically assaulted him, broke his right hand, he needs medical assistance at once ) He also stated that they are in great panic as the police totally failed to arrest the perpetrators.
Bangladesh Minority Watch is very much concerned with repeated attack on minority communities. This attack is third time attack in a week of escalating sectarian tension and violence in Lalmonirhat Region. BDMW demand immediate arrest of the perpetrators and those should be brought to book and compensation should be paid to the victims for their rehabilitation.
More details will be submitted very soon.
With Best Regards,
Rabindra Ghosh
Founder President-Bangladesh Minority Watch and
Observer-Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD)
12-K.M. Das Lane, Tikatully, Wari P.S.,Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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