Published On:Saturday 4 October 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
Punish Ramu attackers : Buddhists call for quick trial
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| A peace procession of Buddhists at Ramu in Cox's Bazar yesterday, marking the communal violence triggered by an anti-Islam photo on a fake Facebook page two years ago and calling for peaceful co-existence of people of all faiths in the country. In an unprecedented hate campaign, the minority community came under attack in Ramu on September 29, 2012, and soon it spread to some neighbouring upazilas, but none of the 19 cases has entered the phase of trial yet. Photo: Star |
The Buddhist community in Ramu yesterday looked back on the day of horror that descended upon the upazila two years ago.
Still haunted by the attacks on their homes and temples, they called for expediting the trial of the hate crimes and ensuring exemplary punishment to the attackers.
They organised a daylong programme in the upazila to mark the second anniversary of the violence.
Fanatics attacked Buddhist homes and temples in Ramu, Ukhia, Teknaf and the Sadar upazila of Cox's Bazar on September 29 and 30 in 2012, following a fake Facebook post demeaning the Quran.
A daylong cultural programme was organised at Central Sima Bihar in Ramu to seek peace, prosperity and harmony among all.
“Bangladesh is a county of communal harmony and people irrespective of their castes and creeds have been living together here for decades,” Dharmasen Mahathero, top religious leader of the Bangladeshi Buddhists, told the programme.
“We have to remain alert to maintain the harmony,” he added.
Ramu Kendriya Buddha Juba Parishad brought out a procession from Ramu Khijari High School in the morning to mark the second anniversary of the violence. The procession ended at the same place after encircling several areas of the upazila.
“We all want peace and harmony among all the religions. We don't want to see recurrence of such violence,” said Rajat Barua, president of the organisation.
A meeting and a special prayer were also organised at Ramu Maitri Bihar at Shreekole village yesterday evening. A huge number of Buddhists lit candles there to mark the day.
Two years have passed since the attack on the Buddhists of Cox's Bazar, but none of the 19 cases filed over the incident has gone to trial.
Locals allege many perpetrators have been left out of the charge sheets while many innocent people made accused.
An investigation by The Daily Star had exposed a forged Facebook profile of a Buddhist youth was used to instigate the hate crimes. Besides, inaction of the local administration, intelligence and law enforcement agencies was blamed for the pre-planned attack. [ The Daily Star ]
Still haunted by the attacks on their homes and temples, they called for expediting the trial of the hate crimes and ensuring exemplary punishment to the attackers.
They organised a daylong programme in the upazila to mark the second anniversary of the violence.
Fanatics attacked Buddhist homes and temples in Ramu, Ukhia, Teknaf and the Sadar upazila of Cox's Bazar on September 29 and 30 in 2012, following a fake Facebook post demeaning the Quran.
A daylong cultural programme was organised at Central Sima Bihar in Ramu to seek peace, prosperity and harmony among all.
“Bangladesh is a county of communal harmony and people irrespective of their castes and creeds have been living together here for decades,” Dharmasen Mahathero, top religious leader of the Bangladeshi Buddhists, told the programme.
“We have to remain alert to maintain the harmony,” he added.
Ramu Kendriya Buddha Juba Parishad brought out a procession from Ramu Khijari High School in the morning to mark the second anniversary of the violence. The procession ended at the same place after encircling several areas of the upazila.
“We all want peace and harmony among all the religions. We don't want to see recurrence of such violence,” said Rajat Barua, president of the organisation.
A meeting and a special prayer were also organised at Ramu Maitri Bihar at Shreekole village yesterday evening. A huge number of Buddhists lit candles there to mark the day.
Two years have passed since the attack on the Buddhists of Cox's Bazar, but none of the 19 cases filed over the incident has gone to trial.
Locals allege many perpetrators have been left out of the charge sheets while many innocent people made accused.
An investigation by The Daily Star had exposed a forged Facebook profile of a Buddhist youth was used to instigate the hate crimes. Besides, inaction of the local administration, intelligence and law enforcement agencies was blamed for the pre-planned attack. [ The Daily Star ]
