Denouncing the post-polls violence against minorities by BNP-Jamaat, Awami League (AL) general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday urged the country's progressive forces to remain alert and resist any communal violence by this identified evil force, reports UNB.
In statement, Syed Ashraf strongly denounced the recent violence, arson, looting of houses, business establishments and worship places of religious minorities and small ethnic groups by BNP-Jamaat hooligans in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Jessore, Satkhira and other parts of the country.
Ashraf said the BNP-Jamaat anti-democratic forces are out to create an anarchic situation in the country in the guise of a democratic movement. "They want to materialise their evil political will holding the common people hostage in the name of hartals and blockades. The people of the country have made successful the 10th parliamentary elections on January 5 defying their killings, terrorism, bombings and other heinous acts."
The AL general secretary also said the country's non-communal, democratic and progressive forces would have to remain united to maintain at any cost the stunning progress and epoch-making achievements Bangladesh made in peace, democracy, development, good governance and in socio-economic fields under Sheikh Hasina's able leadership.
"At the same time, all the conspiracies of this identified evil force would have to be resisted firmly," Ashraf added in his statement.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry on Tuesday directed the authorities in Jessore for quick probe into the communal attacks on Hindu community at Malopara-Chapatala village at Abhaynagar Upazila that was allegedly conducted by BNP-Jamaat activists on Sunday, reports UNB.
BNP-Jamaat activists reportedly vandalised and looted 130 Hindu houses and torched 10 others at Malopara-Chapatala village in Abhaynagar Upazila of Jessore.
In an order issued on Tuesday, the ministry asked the deputy commissioner as well as the superintendent of police in Jessore district to launch separate and emergency probes into the communal attacks on Hindu families in Abhaynagar, Home Ministry joint secretary Mozakkel Ali told reporters at the Secretariat.
The ministry has also given a similar order to the deputy commissioner (DC) and the superintendent of police (SP) in Dhaka district to launch separate probes into the incident of a post-election violence at Dohar Upazila that killed five people on Monday.
At least five people, including a father and his son, were killed and 20 others injured in a post-election clash between the supporters of two rival candidates of Awami League and Jatiya Party at Hajarbigha village in Dohar upazila on Monday morning.
Mozakkel Ali, who is also the head of the Law and Order Coordination Cell under the Home Ministry, said the ministry issued the order taking cognizance of the media reports on the relevant incidents.
"Legal steps have already been taken by the authorities against those involved. But the ministry has issued the order to quickly find out what really lies behind those incidents," he said.
Talking to UNB over phone, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku said the government has already given orders for combing operation by the joint forces in the affected area in Jessore until the criminals involved are not arrested.
"The combing operation will continue until the real culprits are arrested," he said.
About the post-election violence at Dohar, Tuku said the criminals will be shown no mercy, no matter which party they belong to.
