‘Communal attacks unchecked’

The government has failed to prevent attacks on the Hindus after Sunday’s polls, the National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Jan 2014, 11:08 AM
Updated : 8 Jan 2014, 11:08 AM

“The minorities are being tortured across the country. The state and government are responsible for securing their lives and property,” Rahman said in a seminar on Wednesday.

“The government is yet to take any effective step,” he lamented.

The NHRC chief asked the government to give exemplary punishment to those committing atrocities.

Rahman cited deaths caused by violence unleashed by the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance.

He said a presiding officer had been killed in the presence of security personnel
during polling, and voters and minorities were being tortured.

Thousands of people now wanted to cross the border in search of safety, he said.

“The government is giving us hope but failing to prove its mettle. If the failure persists, secular Bangladesh will be in danger,” Rahman said.

The NHRC chief appealed to everyone to go ‘all out’ to resist the communal violence.

Miscreants attacked, torched and ransacked houses of Hindus at various places including Jessore and Dinajpur after Sunday’s general elections boycotted by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.