Bangladesh News

Hindu Community Targeted by Police In Chittagong, Bangladesh Amid Protests

November 6, 2024
The Commune

On 5 November 2024, members of the Hindu community in Hazari Goli, Chittagong, were subjected to violent actions by police and law enforcement authorities after staging a protest against a local trader. The trader, Osman Mollah, had made derogatory remarks about ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and Sanatana Dharma, sparking outrage among local Hindus.

The protest took place outside Mollah’s shop, where community members gathered to express their anger. Instead of taking legal action against the trader, law enforcement took Mollah into “safe custody.” However, reports indicate that the police, along with army officials, later turned their focus on the protesting Hindus. Eyewitnesses have shared disturbing images showing a joint team of security forces hunting down members of the Hindu community.

Authorities have justified their actions by alleging that the protesters threw bricks and acid at the police, but reports suggest that this was an effort to rationalize the crackdown. At least five Hindus were injured during the assault, and around 30 members of the minority community were detained. Disturbing footage also surfaced showing law enforcement destroying CCTV cameras in an apparent attempt to cover up their actions.

The violence continued into the night, with local residents recording videos of the ongoing assault by police and army personnel.

Alleged Blasphemy Incident Escalates Tensions In Faridpur

This incident follows a similar escalation in the Faridpur district, where a Muslim mob attacked a Hindu student after accusing him of blasphemy. The incident took place at Kadirdi Degree College in Boalmari, where a Class XI student, Hridoy Pal, was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad in a Facebook post. The student denied ownership of the post, explaining that his social media account had been hacked two years ago.

The mob, consisting of madrassa students, gathered outside the college and demanded that the administration hand over the accused student. The situation grew tense as the mob vandalized property and motorcycles. The local police responded, and political leaders intervened to calm the mob. However, to prevent further violence, the army was called in, and they took the student into custody.

A troubling video emerged showing Hridoy Pal blindfolded and being carried by army personnel, with members of the mob slapping and encouraging further abuse. In the video, one army official is seen hitting the student with a stick, while the mob attacked the army with stones and shoes.

(With inputs from OpIndia)

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