Communal Attacks

Collected Obaidul Quader

Communal attack done to destroy friendship with India: Quader

Quader made the remarks while addressing a humanitarian aid program organized by the Relief and Social Welfare Sub-Committee of Bangladesh Awami League in collaboration with Amena Noor Foundation at Chaumuhani Municipal Auditorium in Noakhali on Tuesday (November 2).

Obaidul Quader said, "Sheikh Hasina has been leading this country for 12 consecutive years. Among them, religious members of the Hindu community were not attacked or injured in any of the events. But now a party has created communalism to create instability in the country ahead of the elections. I think this has been done to destroy the trust of the Hindus towards the Awami League and the friendly relations with the neighbouring country."

He said if the leaders and activists of the country had been alert after the incident in Comilla, these incidents would not have happened in other places. "If the leaders and workers of Awami League had been more vigilant, they would not have had the courage to carry out communal incidents. We have to find out the failure of Awami League in this incident. People of Bangladesh Hindu community will be afraid. Why would they leave the country, they have fought the war of liberation and sacrificed their lives, they also have the right to stay in this country. They are also first class citizens of this country."

The general secretary of the Awami League said, "As soon as the vote comes, we go to the Hindus and mourn, we show compassion to the Hindus, but why couldn't we stand by them in their time of danger? I left this question to the conscience of each of you."

Noting that not everything is looking at the administration, he said, "We have such a big organization, so many cadres. The day after the Comilla incident, the Chaumuhani incident took place. If you had been strictly vigilant, if the Awami League had been vigilant, they would have been so daring? They carried out such violence in Chaumuhani."

On the occasion, aid of Taka 1 million in cash was distributed on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the families and religious institutions affected by the violence at Chaumuhani in Noakhali.

The families of the slain Pranta Chandra Das and Jatan Saha have been given Tk 1,00,000 each, the damaged seven temples Tk 50,000 each, seven puja marquee Tk 25,000 each and the injured 20 people received Tk 10,000 each.