Attacks on Hindus: Protesters block Shahbagh

Protesters on Friday blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital for half an hour protesting the continuous attacks on Hindu community people at Nasirnagar in Brahmanbaria and other parts of the country. Joint secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif of ruling Awami League also faced the blockade as he was returning from Dhaka University after attending a programme this afternoon. Protesters stopped Hanif’s private car at Shahbagh intersection while he also expressed solidarity with the protesters, witnesses said. The protesters blocked the busy intersection from 12:30pm to 1:00pm demanding immediate arrest and trial of the offenders who conducted the communal attacks. Earlier in the morning a procession of Dhaka University students was held at National Press Club where other Human rights activists joined them and blocked the intersection. The leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad members, activists of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot demanded suspension of Nasirnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and superintendent of police as they failed to take proper steps during the attacks. About 150 houses and business establishments and 15 temples of Hindus were vandalised and looted by groups of local Muslims on Sunday over reportedly sharing a doctor’s photo setting an idol on the Kaaba on an Hindu youth Rasraj Das’s Facebook wall. At least four or five groups of Muslim miscreants simultaneously attacked temples, houses and business establishments at Duttapara, Kashipara, Mistripara, Namasudrapara, Mahakalpara and elsewhere, local people said.  Locals said that people mostly from Qoumi Group armed with sticks and sharp weapons committed the attacks and looting for about two hours from 11:30am on Sunday.