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Minority Oppression in Bangladesh |
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Report of the Public Inquiry Commission(2nd Installment) By Mukto-mona Dhaka Source Continued from first installment (original pages 4-13) 6.
Analysis of Facts & Figures received by the Commission The Public
Inquiry Commission after determining its modus operandi within the framework
of the terms of reference proceeded as follows. The
Commission interviewed 42 persons among them were 3 journalists, 12 members of
survey team of different humanist organizations who worked in the field level.
and 27 victims of representative characters including two young girls who lost
their highest honour (ijjat), and a grand old man of over 85 years
severely wounded because of inhuman physical torture.
1. Ain O Salis Kendra 2. Nari Pragati Sangha 3. Bangladesh Mahila Parisad 4. Sammilita Samajik Andolan 5. PRIP Trust 6. Hindu Boudha Christian Oikya Parisad 7. Nagarik Adhikar Sangrakhan O Sampradayikata Pratirodh Kamiti 8.
Report submitted by Member-Secretary of the Commission. The
Commission took into account of Press statements, releases and reports issued
by Political and Social organizations time to time, and speeches delivered by
important individuals at different forums. In addition to, the Commission
critically reviewed many writings and articles in relation to this burning
issue including those given in the bibliography. The main
and first issue before the Commission was to determine: 1. Whether the published Reports of repressions on religious and ethnic minority communities such as attacks on their residences, lootings, setting of fires on houses and professional establishments, repression on women, and killings have any factual basis. The Commission looked through the reports in order to settle the issue. Given below are extracts of news items as published from 2nd September to 31st December 2001 in the major national dailies? (The news items have been compiled by Civil Committee for use of the Commission and reproduced below without any comments.) Before Election02. 09. 01
Janakantha : Minority voters under threat 15. 09. 01
Sangbad :Attacks
on Minority houses at Kachua : 45 injured in Violence. 19. 09. 01 Ajker Kagoj : Minority voters are being threatened in 4 Khulna constituencies.
Sangbad : Attacks on
Minority families at Devidwar: Father & daughter killed 20. 09. 01 Bhorer Kagoj : Conspiracy to bar Minorities going to polling booths 23. 09. 01 Muktokantha : Fear and apprehension prevailing among the Hindus, case filed for setting fire against 28.
Sangbad : Main target
Minority Community : one killed in 15 days in Bagerhat, wounded over hundreds, 20 camps destroyed. Bhorer Kagoj : Houses set fire for joining procession of boats : horror of panic prevails in village Utkul in Bagerhat, people are in fear. Ajker Kagoj : Voters threatened at Dumki, Patukhali 24. 09. 01 Ajker Kagoj : Tortures on Minorities, none to protest Janakantha : Attacks on Minorities in Bhola and Feni Janakantha : Images of goddess Durga and Kali destroyed at Pangsha village 25. 09. 01 Prathom Alo : Minorities would not cast votes ? Repression, panic prevail everywhere Sangbad : Terrorist activities in two Rangpur constituencies by masked terrorists : Minorities threatened not to go to polling centres 26. 09. 01 Ajker Kagoj : Minority voters are in extreme fear, suffering from sense of insecurity: Doubts prevailing if over 10 million voters- would they be able to cast votes; Even directives of Chief Advisor not respected. Bhorer Kagoj: Allegations of repressions brought in in the Press Conference of Hindu Boudha Christian Oikya Parisad: Would 90 thousand voters of minority community in Feni be able to cast their votes ?
27. 09. 01 Sangbad : 7 VIP Candidates faces difficult challenge : Minorities of 8 police stations in Chittagong under severe threat 28. 09. 01 Prathom Alo : Minorities in three constituencies in Barisal under tremendous pressure Sangbad : Assaults on minorities, young girls molested, Images of goddesses destroyed : Killed one, wounded hundreds in election violence. Janakantha : For fear of terrorists Minorities in Jessore panicked Ittefaq : Minorities at Kachua demand for security in casting votes
Janakantha
: Panic at Shyamnagar not over yet : three
minor girls of a minority family molested- many fleeing from the locality 30.
09. 01 Ajker Kagoj : Threats to Minorities at Bagerhat and Jhalakathi- Temple
of goddess Kali destructed, wounded 8 Ajker Kagoj : Chittagong at last moment: Clattering sounds of weapons being heard- thousands of armed cadres ready; 10 lakhs minorities besieged . Janakantha : Threats given to leave the country; panic not over from among the minorities Sangbad : Minorities at Ukhiya are under severe threat Sangbad : Minority voters in 45 villages at Patuakhali under threat
01. 10. 01 Prathom Alo : Pressure increasing on Minorities in Bhola Sangbad : 7 members of minority community at Nalchhiti village beaten to injury : 3 supporters of Elen Bhutto arrested Sangbad : Terrorist attacks on minorities at Munshiganj : Given threats not to go to polling stations
Sangbad
: Minority situation: two killed in Comilla,
50 residences under attack at Narsingdi Sangbad : 163 killed in political violence: Minority voters in 33 districts under severe threats and pressure Sangbad : Fire set on houses of members of minority community at Rawzan : Threatening continuing Janakantha : How the voting rights of minority voters at Satkania snatched away .... Ajker Kagoj : Minority voters of 4 villages at Banaripara under besiege at the hands of Bichhu Bahini cadres.
After
Election: 02. 10. 01 Janakantha : Houses of 15 families of minorities in Sylhet locked: Cast votes in procession with the help of police 02. 10. 01 Janakantha : Communal evil force created barricade against minorities casting votes 03. 10. 01 Muktokantha : Attacks on temples from Jamaati procession in Khulna :
Images of goddess destructed Ajker Kagoj : Fanatic frenzies let loose by Jamaat-Shibir at Pirojpur Prathom Alo : Attacks on residences of Minorities in Bhola : Panic and fear not over yet. 04. 10. 01 Bhorer Kagoj : Assaults on Minority-localities at Ukhiya Ajker Kagoj : Assaults on Minorities at Narsinghdi
Ajker Kagoj
: Bir Bahadur elected at Bandarban : BNP
terrorists attacked Buddhist temples, images broken Prathom Alo : BNP urge its supporters to keep quiet in Bhola ; Attacks on AL and religious minorities in Bhola Janakantha : BNP frenzies let loose in Barisal : Minorities under threat, houses brought down, forcible occupation reoccupation continuing unabated Sangbad : Reports from Munshiganj, Bagerhat, Jessore, Satkhira,
Chittagong, Rajshahi, and Gaffargaon : Post
election violence- main target Minority communities: wounded 371, BNP workers created hell of panic at Mirpur 05. 10. 01 Janakantha : 1. Total anarchism prevailing throughout the country in post election chaos; violence and atrocities prevailing; law & order broken down; government inactive, police and army silent spectators. 2. Four AL workers killed as
BNP-Jamaat terrorists attacked. Attacks on residences of ex-minister Mr. Tofael Ahmed and ex-MP Mr. Golondaz in Bhola followed by lootings. 3. Terrorism on Minorities in Satkhira let loose by Jamaat workers exceeded even repression of 1971 4. Repression on Minorities and leaders-workers of Awami League continuing unabated. 5. Minorities and supporters of Awami League are the victims of repression in Rajshahi.
Ittefaq
: Hindu Image broken in villages of Khulna,
makers assaulted Janakantha : Assaults on minorities in Narayanganj, Barisal and Comilla : Abodes destroyed and lootings; many fleeing for fear of life to safer places Prathom Alo : Terrorist assaults on Awami Leaguers and Minorities in 20
districts: Nine killed Sangbad : Election observation of BRATEE : Preliminary Report : Minority Voters threatened not to go polling centres for casting votes. 05. 10. 01 Sangbad : Assaults on Minorities on the increase in post election violence
5 killed, hundreds injured 1.
Many Hindus and AL
workers fled away from villages of Bagerhat
district to take shelter in safer place. Within two days 2 killed and
10 injured in the district. 2. Wide spread looting taking place in the minority inhabitant localities at Fatullah, Narayanganj. Miscreants made naked an old lady of 80 years, raped a significant number of girls and women. 3.
At Natore and Nowgaon during last few days, 10
persons wounded and one killed 4.
In Magura a group of
terrorists abducted a schoolteacher from his home and left him on roadside
after striking him on head with a hammer. People rescued him from roadside in
a wounded condition and took to hospital. 5. Other localities: Wide spread incidences of repressions took place in Kustia, Chittagong, Sunamganj. In Chittagong more than 50 Hindu families were attacked and properties looted. One killed in each district of Kustia and Sunamganj. In other localities too incidence of repression took place including those areas of Narsingdi, Tangail, Barisal, Patuakhali, Mirzapur.
One Dilip is running away for fear of life :
his property forcibly occupied
06. 10. 01 Janakantha : BNP style hell of frenzies befell on Minorities of Uzirpur. Heavy extortion demanded; Girls in panic. 07. 10. 01 Janakantha : Constituencies of Sayidee are perilous locality now, fire setting on houses of Minorities. Prathom Alo : Continued assaults on AL workers and minorities in different places of the country. Muktokantha : Minorities of villages of Bagerhat away from their abodes Victims of atrocious assaults : Took shelter at Chaterhat, Mangla. 08. 10. 01 Ittefaq : Post Election Narayanganj : AL supporters are main target- Assaults on houses, destruction, forcible occupation of shops and business centres; Many minorities are hiding. Ajker Kagoj : Assaults on Minorities, looting, destruction continued unabated Janakantha : Minorities of two Upazilas (sub-districts) in Barisal left their areas as a result of BNP led expedition of
purification; Temples destroyed, setting of
fires on
houses, lootings; Young girls stopped going schools and colleges. 08. 10. 01
Janakantha : Post election fanatic frenzies : Elderly
Buddhist teacher became victim of extreme torture. Janakantha : Awami League workers-supporters and Minorities held captives at the hands of BNP terrorists in Swarupkathi : Destruction of houses, lootings, extortion and repressions continuing. Janakantha : Barbaric assaults on Minorities in Dinajpur villages :
Molestation of girls; many families left the
country out of
fear of life. Daily Star : 1. Attacks on Awami League supporters and Minorities continuing.
2.
Twelve
workers of Awami League and Students League killed
in post election violence. 3. Workers of BNP led 4-party alliance continuing repressions on Minorities at different places of Gazipur district. Even freedom fighters not spared. Janakantha : 1. Men and women belonging to Minority Community continuously taking shelter in Kotalipara. Untold stories of miseries and repressions being described before DC and SP. 2. Continued repressions on Awami Leaguers and Minorities condemned in Khulna and Bhairab; Processions brought out, assemblies held. 3. BNP-Jamaat
workers witch hunting those who voted for Boat-
symbol; Over hundreds wounded most belong to Minority community. 10. 10. 01 Ajker Kagoj : Date line Comilla: Minority families moving out from one place to another inside panic stricken localities. Ajker Kagoj : Unabated torture-repression on Minorities continuing throughout the country. Prathom Alo : Minorities from many districts in the north left the country under unabated threats and assaults. Prathom Alo : More than 50 families belonging to Minority Community at Galachipa held captives at the hands of the terrorists. Jugantar : Situation of Gaurnadi and Agailjhara: Minorities being tortured even after casting their votes in favour of ear of corn (dhaner shis)
Ajker Kagoj :
Chanpara is a panic stricken locality for
Minorities : Young
men are away from homes for fear of BNP terrorists; Girls threatened for being lifted. Daily Star : Attacks on AL workers and Minorities in Magura : 45 injured. Bangladesh Observer: European Commission appeals, Take effective measures against Minority-repression.
11. 10. 01 Janakantha : Fire of revenge- Minority villages in Bagerhat are burning.
Jamakantha
: Post election atrocities
continuing in Naogaon: Women molested for casting
votes in favour of boat-symbol, Deities destroyed. Janakantha : Administration in total silence; if situation does not improve- it is apprehended many minority families would leave the country in silence. Matribhumi : Minorities in Jhenaidaha are terrified Matribhumi : Minorities of Kaliakair abandoned their homes and localities Bhorer Kagoj: Minorities threatened to leave their abodes; Dacoity, lootings, raping continuing with equal speed throughout the country.
Ajker Kagoj: One
killed at Mangla and Bagerhat
because of BNP terrorists
attacks on Minorities; Forcible occupation of shrimp culture centres and bus terminals.
Bangladesh Observer : Over
50,000 people of AL workers and Hindu families held captives at Keshabpur (Jessore). Daily Star : Continued assaults on AL workers and members of Minority communities (Pabna and Gopalganj) Daily Star : Minorities from three Upazilas of Pabna are fleeing : Allegation of looting and persecution. 12. 10. 01 Janakantha : Awami league leaders-workers and members of minority families at Sarisabari are in panic : Many left villages Sangbad : Repression on Minorities continuing Daily Star : Minorities were on the run as BNP miscreants attacked 13. 10. 01 Sangbad : 1. Minority Refugees taking shelter at Ramshil dare not return home in spite of assurances from DC and SP
2. Unabated assaults on AL workers and Minorities: two
killed in Feni. 3.
19 Adibashis ordered to leave their homesteads, abducted
AL minority worker killed in Rajshahi. 4. Police inactive and indifferent : Hindus and Muslims, both communities are victims of post election terrorism in Bhola district 5.
Post election situation : Kaliakair is now a zone killed
by terrorism : Looting and forcible occupations continuing with equal speed. Daily Star : Hundreds of people belonging to minority community from Agailjara, Barisal fled away
15. 10. 01 Janakantha : Minorities of Agaijhara wants to return home Janakantha : Persecution on Minorities at Narail, Kaliya, and Naragati
continuing; Refugees taking shelter in
Gopalganj not able to return home. 15. 10. 01 Janakantha : Severe assault on a Minority family ay Nagarkanda- it exceeds even that of 71. Janakantha : College going girl raped in presence of her mother at Bhanga Janakantha : Not only the village Utkul, all villages in Bagerhat in effect besieged.
Janakantha
: BNP cadres evicted 11 thousands men from
their homes at Kaliganj Complained Municipality chairman. Janakantha : What justice I would demand ? Shefali broken down in tears. Sangbad : Assaults, lootings on Minorities continuing throughout: Persecution on Minorities at Mirersarai continuing- Police taking no actions. Prathom Alo : BNP terrorists let loose frenzies at Nazirpur : Minorities taking shelter in Barguna and Jessore towns.
Prathom Alo
: Minority Repression: three women of a
family lost their ijjat (honour). Prathom Alo : Images of goddess destroyed at Matlab and Shahrasti. 16. 10. 01 Sangbad : Kamalarani gave vivid description of assault on her house in presence of interior minister.
Sangbad
: Who would try these social criminals ? Numerous
faces of repression at Ramshil shelter centres.
Sangbad
: At Gaurnadi, BNP cadres raped en masse
wives of two brothers in front of them after tying them up.
Sangbad
: Awami league leader abducted at Chatkhil : 9
Images (of god or
goddess) destructed at Iswarganj
Sangbad
: Atrocious persecution, looting, raping of
girls etc.. on Minorities
and AL workers continuing; Minorities threatened to leave the country. Janakantha : Bajrukh para of Rajshahi, a panic-stricken Janapad (zone) : More than two hundred terrorists simultaneously attacked the locality followed by lootings etc... Janakantha : The united terrorist group at Coxs Bazar now casting its greedy eyes with the intention of grabbing landed properties of a Budhist temple; the monk assaulted and beaten. Janakantha : Extorting money from the minority families after serving due notices to villages in Bagerhat. Janakantha : Terrible picture of repression at Rajnagar for casting votes in favour of boat-symbol. Janakantha : Persecution continuing on AL leaders-workers and Minorities in Sirajganj.
Bhorer Kagoj
: Frenzied activities of masked young men: Hill
girl raped at Bandarban; Repression on Bengali families too. | ||