Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza has condemned the recent attacks against the minority Hindu community as a loss for the country. In a Facebook post, Mortaza said Sunday’s communal violence in Rangpur district had shattered him.
“Witnessed two losses yesterday. One was Bangladesh cricket team’s, which was painful,” he said, referring to Bangladesh’s defeat at the hands of Scotland in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
“The other being that of Bangaldesh – one that has shattered my heart. This is not the red and green (colour of the national flag) we wanted to see,” he said.
“So many dreams, so many hard-earned victories lost in a flash,” Mashrafe wrote in Bangla. “Allah give us hidayah (guidance),” he added.
4 shot dead in Bangladesh after violence erupts over PM Modi’s tour
Several Hindu temples have been attacked in Bangladesh after an alleged blasphemous post surfaced on social media during the Durga Puja celebrations last week, Press Trust of India reports. On late Sunday, a mob set on fire at least 20 houses belonging to members of the minority community and damaged another 66. Police have arrested 450 people and registered 71 cases in connection with the attacks. The figure could rise as a manhunt is underway to track down the culprits who are on the run to evade justice, a police spokesman said.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday directed immediate action against the rioters.
The foreign ministry said blamed domestic elements that opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan 50 years ago for propagating their “toxic narratives to instigate violence, hatred and bigotry.”
During the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Hasina instructed Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to crack down on those inciting violence, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper.
The ruling Awami League party organised ‘harmony rallies’ and took out peace processions across the country on Tuesday.