Article by Paplu Bengali,
Bangladesh Student Activist

Will Bangladesh government protect those who have burned and vandalised Hindu houses in Horkoli Thakurpara village of Rangpur district today (Nov 10, 2017) similar to other miscreants who have not been punished by the law?

On 30 October 2016, hundreds of people gathered in Brahmanbaria district in eastern Bangladesh, to protest a Facebook post allegedly made by Rasraj Das, 25, is a fisherman and member of the Hindu religious minority. which they claimed insulted Islam. The mob, which had links to the groups Hefajat-e-Islam and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, a network of madrasa leaders who hope to introduce Shariah in Bangladesh, went on a rampage through Hindu villages in the area, vandalising at least 100 homes and several temples. As usually, no justice we have got of that assault; however, Rashraj Das has been detained in Bangladesh since October 2016. He was arrested for allegedly posting an “offensive” image on Facebook and charged with “hurting religious sentiment” was locked up and had to be subdued even though he did no crime.

And again On 10 November 2017, after saying prayer of Jumuah, thousands from several villages gathered in front of a mosque and then, many of the people carrying sticks, torched and vandalised Hindu houses claiming that one Titu Chandra Roy ”insulted Islam” on Facebook two weeks ago; but it is very ridiculous that no one of that mob can say what the insulting word is.

We have seen a photo of an aged woman wailing in front of her burned down house. I just meticulously fear to think of her unuttered words and mental condition. Since we are a human being, that howling reaches to our eardrum. We get angered- definitely, these barbarisms make us offend.

Very ago Hefazat-e-Islam, a network of madrasa leaders who hope to introduce Shariah in Bangladesh, threatened and declared that those who would dishonor Islam religion would have been throttled and killed. But, very sadly it is to say that the leaders who threaten people again and again in different ways on behalf of Hefazat are, however, highly entertained at the head office of government. Moreover, the government abides by the demands and makes a syllabus for education system after the assertions of Hefazat. Since the government doesn’t pay attention to these wrongdoings that are being happened in the country, zealot people who need land burn Hindu houses using religious sentiment- besides this, people who want to strengthen political platform using religion are active in the time of persecution.

I have no word to console the oppressed people of Horkoli Thakurpara, Rangpur. To stand by the tormented people, prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina might not go to Rangpur; but, if it were Cricket, she would surely be on the field.

A face of a white whole cloth wearing elderly woman who wailing in front of her burned down house comes again and again on my mind. Is it believable that the howling woman who downtrodden by her neighbors who dwelling just before her house! It is hard to believe in this century but it seems as if it were a very normal thing in our country.

The down-hearted people of Horkoli Thakurpara are going to spend their night under the open sky. They are helpless, burned with envy by the majority Muslim zealot people. It is crying need to stand by the abraded lawful Hindu minority people; but we are being late.