Three-day deadline given to punish attackers of Hindus in Nasirnagar

Scores of students, protesting against the recent attacks on Hindus in Brahmanbarhia, have given a three-day deadline to remove Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque and the officials ‘charged’ with negligence in duties in Nasirnagar.

They left capital’s key intersection at Shahbagh after seven hours of the blockade, saying that they would come back if the demands are not met within the deadline.

The blockade at one of the busy intersections in the capital from 11:45am to 6:45pm left the traffic-clogged in and around the area even on the weekly holiday, Friday.

The protesters burnt an effigy of Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul, who represents Nasirnagar constituency in Parliament, and allegedly made derogatory remarks about Hindus after the attack on Oct 30.

Some were carrying placards that read, "Is it our crime to be born as Hindu?", "Is leaving the country the only way?" "We don't accept insult of Hindus.", "Why attacks in Nasirnagar? We want (an) answer."

Over five hundred students under the banners of several organisations including 'Aware Hindu Students of Dhaka University', 'General Hindu Students', 'Sanatan Bidyarthi Sangsad', and 'Ramna Kali Temple and Anandamoyee Ashram Managing Council'.

Their coordinator Manik Rokkhit, announcing the withdrawal of the blockade in the evening, threatened to resume it on Tuesday if the minister and officials are not removed and punished.

He urged all the pro-Liberation War organisations to join the protests.

Shahbagh Police Station OC Abu Bakr Siddique said traffic movement resumed after the protesters left the streets.

At a rally during the blockade, Rokkhit said pointing at the minister, "He has lost the moral right to be in office as minister and MP. It is our request to the prime minister to fulfil our demands."

"This blockade will continue until the prime minister meets our demands," he added.

He also alleged that the ‘non-action’ would only encourage radicals and bigots to carry out more attacks on minorities as we experienced in the past.

Muslim mobs vandalised and set ablaze at least 15 Hindu temples and hundreds of homes and businesses in Nasirnagar on Oct 30 following a Facebook post allegedly insulting Islam. Another temple and several other houses were also torched five days later.

A bdnews24.com investigation revealed that the supporters of Sayedul's rival RAM Obaidul Muktadir MP carried out the attacks.