Re-investigate Baniarchar bomb blast
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Ten people were killed and 30 others injured in a bomb blast inside the Baniarchar church in Masudpur, Gopalganj on June 3, 2001. The deceased were: Michael Mallik (25), Monmoth Sikder (22), Peter Shaha (30) Amar Biswas (25), Binon Das (32), Jalish Biswas (30), Sumon Halder (27), Zinto Mondol (21), Rodirigues Zetra (27), Sonjibon Baroi (28). After police formalities they were buried near the grave which is behind the church.
About 3530 Catholics live in the Maksudpur village. Established in 1938, the church is called the Most Holy Redeemer Church. It is under Khulna Diocese of Bangladesh and the priest in-charge is Father Mimmo Pietanza, SX.
A large number of devotees gathered at the church to attend morning mass on the fateful Sunday of June 3, 2001. When The Holy Bible was about to be read the second time at 7:30, the bomb was blasted inside the Church. Ten people died on the spot, and 30 more people were wounded. After police formalities they were buried near the grave which is behind the Church.
After the bomb blast condolence meetings and protest meetings were held and human chains were formed in different parts of the country. Not only Christian societies, groups and students but people from all walks of life participated in these programmes. The Bangladesh Christian Association organised a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka which was presided over by Mr. Nirmol Rozario, secretary general of the association. Government appointed an investigation team and they started their work. On 18.02.2002 Justice Bari investigation commission team went to Baniarchar to investigate.
The government formed an inquiry commission and the Bari Commission submitted its report on February 18, 2002. The report said that the tragic incident was a sequel to the rivalry of two Christian groups. The report apparently failed to find out the truth.
The Baniarchar bomb blast was obviously linked to similar blasts at Udichi's program, CPB's meeting at Paltan, Ramna Batomul, Sylhet Hazrat Shahjalal's Mazar, at the Awami League's public meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue and the attack in Sylhet which killed former finance minister Shah S.M. Kibria.
The Christian community in Bangladesh hopes that the present government will carry out a re-investigation into the bomb blast inside the Baniarchar church and punish the real culprits.
Aldrick Biswas
e-mail: aldrickb56@gmail.com
About 3530 Catholics live in the Maksudpur village. Established in 1938, the church is called the Most Holy Redeemer Church. It is under Khulna Diocese of Bangladesh and the priest in-charge is Father Mimmo Pietanza, SX.
A large number of devotees gathered at the church to attend morning mass on the fateful Sunday of June 3, 2001. When The Holy Bible was about to be read the second time at 7:30, the bomb was blasted inside the Church. Ten people died on the spot, and 30 more people were wounded. After police formalities they were buried near the grave which is behind the Church.
After the bomb blast condolence meetings and protest meetings were held and human chains were formed in different parts of the country. Not only Christian societies, groups and students but people from all walks of life participated in these programmes. The Bangladesh Christian Association organised a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka which was presided over by Mr. Nirmol Rozario, secretary general of the association. Government appointed an investigation team and they started their work. On 18.02.2002 Justice Bari investigation commission team went to Baniarchar to investigate.
The government formed an inquiry commission and the Bari Commission submitted its report on February 18, 2002. The report said that the tragic incident was a sequel to the rivalry of two Christian groups. The report apparently failed to find out the truth.
The Baniarchar bomb blast was obviously linked to similar blasts at Udichi's program, CPB's meeting at Paltan, Ramna Batomul, Sylhet Hazrat Shahjalal's Mazar, at the Awami League's public meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue and the attack in Sylhet which killed former finance minister Shah S.M. Kibria.
The Christian community in Bangladesh hopes that the present government will carry out a re-investigation into the bomb blast inside the Baniarchar church and punish the real culprits.
Aldrick Biswas
e-mail: aldrickb56@gmail.com