Awami League leader arrested over attacks on Nasirnagar Hindus

Police have arrested a local leader of the Awami League on charges of his involvement in the vandalism on temples and the attack and looting of homes of Hindus at Brahmanbarhia's Nasirnagar in October.

Sheikh Abdul Ahad, former joint secretary general of the ruling party's unit at Nasirnagar, was picked up from his home at the Upazila Sadar's Ghoshparha on Tuesday afternoon.

"He was involved in the vandalism and looting of homes of Hindus on Oct 30," said OC Abu Zafar following the arrest made by Nasirnagar police.

Ahad, a former union council chairman, was sent to the district offices of police's Detective Branch for questioning, he said. 

At least 15 temples and more than a hundred homes at Nasirnagar came under attack on Oct 30 following allegations made against one Hindu fisherman that he had insulted Islam on Facebook.

Another six homes of the members of the religious minority came under attack on Nov 4 and Nov 13.

The violence caused a flurry of protests in Bangladesh and abroad.

The attack also raised a storm of criticism against the authorities, forcing them to withdraw the officer-in-charge of Nasirnagar police for negligence in duties.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, however, defended police saying, ‘They did their job’, though police were widely accused of doing nothing to prevent the attacks.