Hindus in Chittagong fear hate attacks during Durga Puja

Hindus in Chittagong fear that social media might be used to spread rumours leading to hate attacks on the religious minority group during the Durga Puja.

Chittagong Bureaubdnews24.com
Published : 29 Sept 2014, 04:58 PM
Updated : 29 Sept 2014, 04:58 PM

The district's Puja Udjapan Parishad (celebration council), however, hopes this year's Puja will be celebrated in a jovial and festive mood as a pro-liberation, secular force is in power.

In a media call on Monday, Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad's Chittagong unit General Secretary Chandan Biswas urged everyone to remain "vigilant" against "communal forces".

The organisation's Joint General Secretary Shyamal Kumar Palit recalled hate attacks on Hindus at Banshkhali after Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee's war crimes conviction.

A Facebook post had instigated attacks on Buddhist Viharas and Hindu temples in Ramu and Hathazari Upazilas, he reminded the audience.

"We are not at ease after witnessing such attacks," he said. "The Puja and Eid-ul-Azha fall within short time of each other. We fear some may try to instigate violence by spreading rumours [on social media]."

Hindu leaders at the press conference said the local administration had beefed up security after they expressed their fears.

This time, Puja will be held at 1,595 spots (Mandaps) across 14 Upazilas in the district, they said.