Bangladesh PM instructs stern action against communal violence

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to take immediate action against the people involved in vandalizing of puja mandap and attacks on the houses of the Hindu community. Briefing media after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said that the Prime Minister has asked the Home Ministry to investigate the issue promptly and take action against those involved in it.The Cabinet Secretary said that something might be found very soon regarding the Cumilla incident. He said that Islam does not give authority to anyone to destroy things related to other religions in case of defamation of the Holy Quran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement issued on Tuesday has said that the government of Bangladesh condemns in unequivocal terms the incidents of attacks on Hindu religious sites and idols in different parts of the country. As an immediate measure, the government deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in 22 districts to aid the civil administration. Senior government leaders have visited a number of affected areas and assured the Hindu community members of adequate protection and compensation for the damages incurred, said the MoFA press release.The statement said that some vested quarters opposed to Bangladesh’s independence are trying to undermine the country's secular and pluralistic credentials in the world by attacking one of the biggest religious festivals of the country.
The MoFA statement said that the constitution of Bangladesh guarantees the protection of all its citizens from any kind of discrimination. It said that every religious community has the right to establish, maintain and manage its own religious institutions and to perform religious rituals. It asserted that the government remains committed to preventing the recurrence of such untoward incidents. It called upon the media to do responsible and fact-based reporting to avoid further complications or misunderstandings.