Chittagong, Oct 5 (bdnews24.com)—Industries Minister Dilip Barua on Friday expressed the fear that something far worse than the recent religious violence at Ramu Upazila might happen in the country.
"An evil force carried out the arson attacks in cold blood and burnt down the historical archaeological relics of the Buddhist community at Ramu," he told a press conference at Chittagong Circuit House.
A group of religious fanatics attacked a Buddhist locality in Cox's Bazaar district's Ramu on Sep 29 night. They vandalised, torched and looted Buddhist temples, houses and shops.
Similar attacks also took place in Patia upazila of Chittagong district, and Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas in Cox's Bazaar the following day.
The arson attacks were triggered after rumours spread that a Buddhist youth of Bouddha Parha in Merunloa village posted a photograph on his Facebook wall that disgraced the Quran.
Barua, also the General Secretary of Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (Marxist-Leninist), said the violence had similarities with the Rangamati and Satkhira incidents.
On Sep 20, at least 20 people were injured in clashes between Bengali settlers and ethnic minorities in Rangamati town following an altercation between two students of Rangamati Government College.
On Mar 31 and Apr 1, thousands of people from different parts of Satkhira district attacked Hindu households at Fatepur and Chakdaha villages claiming that the Hindus made indecent and objectionable remarks about Prophet Mohammad in a play at Fatepur High School on Mar 27.
At least 12 houses were burned down to ashes and two villages ransacked during the two-day vandalism. Panicked, the Hindus had fled the troubled area with families.
Minister Barua said the government had knowledge about the arson incidents and it would take proper steps.
He tried to defend the Ramu police, saying they tried to stop the assailants. Local residents had alleged the police effectively did nothing to quell the violence.
Barua claimed the Ramu attacks were meant to foil the ongoing war crimes trial, embarrass the government and create anarchy across the country.
Asked what he meant by 'evil force', the minister said it was those who were against the nation's independence.
"It's the evil force which had launched simultaneous bomb attacks in 63 out of 64 districts in 2005 and also the gruesome grenade attacks on an Awami League rally on Aug 21, 2004."
"Some local and international vested quarters want to turn south Chittagong into a hotbed of violence to make gains," he further said.
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