Bangladesh
Communal Violence Government to start combing operation to nab perpetrators of communal violence
Dhaka, October 20: Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that the government will start combing operations to arrest the perpetrators of communal violence, if necessary. He said it after visiting the site of the fire at Karimpur Kasba Majhipara in Ramnathpur Union of Rangpur's Pirganj Upazila on Tuesday (October 19) evening.
Mentioning that Awami League leaders and activists have sided with the Hindu community in maintaining communal harmony, Hasan Mahmud said, "We have called for demonstrations and peace rallies across the country today. Millions of people have gathered in Dhaka for a few hours. The government is determined to give exemplary punishment to the criminals."
Dr. Hassan said, "This country belongs to all of us. Our Bangladesh has been created in exchange for the combined blood of people of all religions. Under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians all joined hands and we got freedom through the great war of liberation. But one party opposed independence and the next generation still does anti-politics in the name of politics. The BNP-Jamaat is the biggest sponsor of that anti-politics."
He said, "Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists or Christians do not resort to violence in this country. Those who engage in communal politics, prevent Hindus from going to the polls, chant anti-India slogans during the polls. The fanatical group, including the BNP-Jamaat, wants to destroy communal harmony by causing such incidents from time to time."
The Information Minister said, "Awami League thinks- our first identity is Bengali, our second identity is our religion. And for BNP-Jamaat, the first identity is religion and the second identity is Bengali or Bangladeshi, we still have doubts."
The minister said those who used to commit robberies before 1971 were admitted to the Razakars, and now the BNP is those who burn people, cattle, houses and vehicles with petrol bombs and fire.
The Information Minister also mentioned the cooperation given to the victims by Pirganj visiting Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, the district administration and the local Awami League and distributed money and food items among the victims on behalf of the party itself.
