The Bangladesh Constitution upholds and protects rights of every religious community to establish, maintain and manage its own religious institutions. Although the government publicly supports freedom of religion, attacks on religious and ethnic minorities continue to be a problem here.
There are many reports of attacks on institutions of the minorities. Religion exerts a significant influence on politics and the government is always alive to the religious sentiments of most citizens. We cannot deny that communal unrest in neighbouring countries, particularly in Myanmar and India, also unfortunately ignite religious hatred in Bangladesh.
Persecution of the Hindus and destruction of their property, business organisations and temples and assaults on them in Bangladesh are connected to diverse issues. In a media report, a Hindu woman claimed that voting for the Awami League (AL) in the national and local elections has made them vulnerable to attacks by the radical sections of society.
Bangladesh experiences a period of instability in the run-up to national elections every five years. Anti-minority hostilities during elections have become a fait accompli. Some reports also said Hindus were even barred from polling stations.
Attacks on the Hindus in different parts of the country, looting of their belongings and arson on their homes have saddened conscious people of the country. The minority leaders have protested the attacks and appealed for justice. The higher courts had directed the law enforcement authorities to make a thorough investigation into the attacks but the role of the law enforcers in preventing violence raises many questions. There are also allegations that political leaders prevent the law enforcers from arresting their party workers after every incident and cops arrest innocent people as scapegoats. Sometimes they were slow to assist religious minority victims of harassment and violence. In addition, even though nabbed, culprits slip out of the legal process by bribing the influential.
The government and many civil society leaders have rightly stated that violence against religious minorities normally has political or economic dimensions and cannot be attributed solely to religious beliefs or affiliations. There were reports of societal abuses and discrimination but the victims don't feel confident to lodge complaints.
Denouncing the attacks on minorities over the 10th parliamentary poll, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the government to take effective steps to protect them from such attacks and compensate the victims. Human rights organisations, terming it violation of human rights, said the attacks have been carried out by a fanatic and non-democratic force in Dinajpur, Jessore, Satkhira, Chittagong and other districts in the last few days.
Our main opposition party accuses the ruling party cadres of launching attacks on minorities and the vice versa. This is not the time of blaming each other. Minorities, especially the Hindus, have been targeted time and again by the zealots, undermining and jeopardising the country's communal harmony. The government must take steps right now to prevent further damage to communal harmony. Bangladesh must demonstrate that it is capable of protecting live and liberty of all its citizens, thereby meeting its constitutional obligations and international commitments.
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