Assurances not enough for Barguna Hindus

Despite the arrest of an accused and repeated assurances by the district administration, the uprooted Hindus are unwilling to return to Taltoli in Barguna.

"We are trying to bring them back to their hearth and homes," says Barguna Deputy Commissioner Mir Zahurul Islam.
 
"If needed, we will build houses for them with government funds," he said.
 
But this has failed to reassure the uprooted Hindus who says the administration did not take cognisance of their complaints and the pressures that led to their exodus.
 
Hindus had started fleeing from the Chandantola (locally known as Moghparha) village in Taltoli Upazila since 2013. 
 
But the issue has made the headlines now. Locals say that due to sustained intimidation and pressure, three Hindu families first fled the village and took shelter in Barguna town in 2013.
 
Two more Hindu families fled the village in 2014. On Mar 13 this year, nine Hindu families fled from the village.
 
One BNP leader Abdur Rashid Akan and one Awami Juba League leader Jakir Hossain Sarkar are said to be masterminding the campaign of intimidation to push the Hindus out of the village with the ulterior motive of capturing their lands.

Assured by the administration, victim Yadav Sarker filed a case naming Rashid as the prime culprit and some other unidentified people on Mar 23.

Taltoli Police Station OC Mohammad Babul Akhter told bdnews24.com that Rashid was arrested on the day of the filing of the case.

“He has been sent to jail. We are investigating the matter with some urgency,” he said.

Rashid is also known as ‘Rashid Dakat’ (dacoit) in the neighbourhood.

He has been to jail several times in cases of robbery and assault on women.

Jakir hails from the area but lives in Barguna town.

The district Juba League’s chief Kamrul Ahsan Moharaj admitted that Jakir is an activist of the organisation but has no position in any committee.

Barguna’s Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam said he suspected some influential group was responsible for terrorising the Hindus.

He said every possible step would be taken to rehabilitate the Hindu families in their own lands.

“Those responsible for intimidating them will face stern legal action,” he added.

The district’s community police General Secretary Sukhranjan Sheel, a freedom fighter, said the people of the locality were working together wholeheartedly to rehabilitate the evicted Hindu families.

The place where they lived was empty on Saturday. No house stood on the place eight houses had been at one time.

The flowerbeds remained uncared-for.

The victims have been identified as belonging to the families of Kartik Roy, 60, Haren Roy, 55, Yadav Sarker, 42, Madhab Sarker, 45, Dhiren Sarker, 75, Subhash Sarker, 44, Ramesh Sarker, 32, Ripon Roy, 40, Nila Rani, 50, Ranjit Sarker, 60, ‘Shyamal’, 41, ‘Sumanta’, 42, ‘Babul’, 35, and Jiten Roy, 65.

All of them say they are not in a position to live in that village again after the repression they have faced.

They alleged their girls had to face regular sexual harassment.

They said they had to withdraw cases against Rashid over torture of women after being threatened by Jakir.

“They intimidated us with sharp weapons and asked to leave the area immediately,” they said.

“We went to the Awami League leaders but they failed to ensure our safety.”

They sold the houses and left the area, as they had no other option, they said.

Panchakoralia Union Parishad Chairman Nazir Hossain Kalu Patwary said the locals formed a human-chain several days ago in protest against activities of Rashid.

He said he could not accept the way the Hindus left.

Taslima Begum, 40, of Chandantala village said some people led by Jakir, Abdus Salam and ‘Ilias’ tore down the houses and took the scrap away.

“The Hindus were forced to sell the houses cheap,” she said.

Anwara Begum, 65, said no one could say anything because of fear.

However, Juba League leader Jakir Hossain Sarkar rejected the charges brought up against him.

While speaking to bdnews24.com, he claimed, “Rashid is innocent. The Hindus have sold their homes and left on their own.”

But one of the villagers, Abdur Rashid Master said, “I can’t say everything. But I can say that those families had left everything behind with a heavy heart.”