IGP vows to punish B’baria attackers

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque today vowed to bring the perpetrators of Brahmanbaria mayhem to face the justice.

The IGP made the assurance at a view exchange meeting with leaders of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities at Police Headquarters in Dhaka. 

Terming the incident as "shocking" and "unprecedented", he said, "The government is aware that a vested quarter aims to tarnish the communal harmony of the country."

"We adopt a zero tolerance to such incidents," he said, asking the leaders of different religions to form "harmony protection committee" at every districts, upazilas and divisional towns.

Speaking at the occasion, discussants demanded evaluation of local administration's role, fair probe into the case and bringing the perpetrators to book for justice.

Brahmanbaria has been experiencing a spate of attacks on the Hindu minority groups – the chain of which started a week ago last Sunday centering a Facebook post.

That day, zealots vandalised at least five temples and ransacked over a hundred houses. Later, twice more, attacks were carried out on Hindus – setting their houses on fire.

National rights body, rights activists and minority community leaders said that the main intention of attack was to drive away Hindus and occupy their lands.

They criticised local law enforcers and administration for failing to contain the violence.