Judicial probe into Ramu riot begins

The judicial investigation into last year’s communal attack on Buddhist homes and temples in Cox’s Bazaar’s Ramu began on Wednesday.

A three-member committee headed by Chittagong District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Abdul Quddus Miah reached Ramu in the morning. The committee will remain in the upazila until Mar 25. A report will be made immediately after the probe is complete, Miah said.

They started by visiting the damaged monasteries and Buddhist homes and spoke to the monks there and other locals.

The other members of the committee are District Judge Sharif Mostafa Karim and Mohammad Johorul Haque, Deputy Secretary to Home Ministry’s Department of Prisons-2.

Religious extremists launched an attack on the Buddhist settlements in Ramu on Sep 29 on the excuse of desecration of the Quran by a Buddhist youth on Facebook. Seven temples, almost 30 homes and shops owned by Buddhists were torched during the hate attacks.

More than a hundred homes and shops were also looted and vandalised.

A probe committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs said in their report that more than 200 individuals were involved in the hate attack besides Rohingya nationals.

The High Court had ordered the formation of a judicial committee to investigate the attack after a writ petition was filed.

The judicial investigators have heard the account of the attack from Satyapriyo Mohathero, Principal of Ramu Sima Vihara. They visited the ‘Uttar Mithachharhi Bimukti Bidorshan Bhabna Kendra, Pragyamitra Ban Vihara, Ramu Sadaching, Laalching, Ukhiarghona Jetbon Bouddha Vihara, Jadiparha Arjyabangsa Bouddha Vihara and Ramu Moitree Vihara.