its now or never for us -Hindus of Bangladesh-worse than 1971

[Guest guest]

PLease do not throw this as politics - its about

humanity -Nomoshkar,

I beg you please take cognizance of the facts below.

below are 2 url's you may visit -

www.mayerdak.com

and www.hrcbm.org

PLease do not throw this as politics - its about

humanity - its worse than 1971 and about the very

existence of 2.5 crore peace loving buddhists and

hindus

its now or never for us - worse than 1971 when 2.25 hindus were butchered

 

please find content and disburse to everyone you

know of . also there are url's prior to each article -

articles have been arranged chronologically - i

request you these news may take light everywhere.

dhanayabaad,

malti

 

Hundreds of minority people flee Agailjhara in Barisal

 

Morshed Ali Khan, from Kotalipara (Gopalganj)

Students belonging to religious minorities began

fast-until-death at the Central Shaheed Minar in the

city yesterday demanding an end to repression on the

minority community across the country.

Hundreds of members of the minority community

including local public representatives in the

neighbouring Agailjhara upazila of Barisal fled their

homes more than a week ago and took shelter in

villages in Kotalipara upazila.

 

These men, women and children are now passing their

days in a state of uncertainty, away from their homes

and with relatives and friends in Ramshil union. Local

people have come forward to help them generously. In

almost every house in Ramshil, these displaced persons

have been given shelter. They left their houses to

escape the wrath of hoodlums under the banner of BNP.

 

 

Gopalganj district administration has deployed armed

policemen in Ramshil to prevent possible attacks by

those elements. Police officials on spot duty said the

district administration has been embarrassed by the

'influx of refugees.' Additional police force would be

deployed at the troubled spots and the 'refugees'

would be encouraged to return to their houses,

officials said.

 

 

In Ramshil, many of the displaced men and women

narrated to this correspondent how the goons created a

reign of terror for the minority community in the

early hours of October 2.

 

Shefali Sarkar, Union Parishad Member of Raziar, said

she and her family were attacked as soon as the

election results became clear.

 

 

"The hoodlums took out violent processions around our

houses, shouted slogans, threw stones and struck on

our doors with sharp weapons while we remained inside,

terrified," Shefali said.

 

 

"Before sunrise, I along with six members of my family

escaped in a small boat and came here," she said.

 

 

Other displaced persons, who arrived in Ramshil in the

last three days, said the gang members have now

started realising toll from the members of Hindu

community.

 

 

Subash Chandra Gain, an official of BNKG Girls High

School and College at Agailjhara said the attackers

also targeted Awami League activists, regardless of

their religion.

Help curb violence against minority, President urged

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

 

 

Awami League presidium member and MP-elect Suranjit

Sengupta has urges requested President Shahabuddin

Ahmed 'to play a role' in curbing violence against the

minority community across the country.

 

In a statement yesterday, Suranjit said that in the

latest spate of violence, 36 people were killed,

thousands were rendered homeless and temples were

damaged in the last two weeks.

 

 

He expressed deep concern at the continued torture on

members of the minority community even after the

formation of a new government and resented that the

head of this government has not condemned such

incidents of violence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Top][Home][Onirban Online]

 

--

 

 

 

Call for immediate steps to combat attacks on

minorities

 

Citizens ask for judicial enquiry into reported

incidents

 

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

 

 

Leading intellectuals of the country from a rally on

Thursday demanded that the newly formed government

take immediate steps to stop attack on religious

minorities across the country and to order a judicial

inquiry into the 'shameful' incidents that have taken

place so far.

 

They also criticised the caretaker government for

failing to stop such attacks on religious minorities

before the election. They said that it had seemed that

from the day after the October 1 election there was

apparently no administration or government in this

country.

 

 

*******

Abducted young man rescued by villagers in Feni

 

A group of villagers of Nababpur union in Feni in a

bold step has rescued a young man from the clutches of

armed men who abducted him and demanded a ransom for

his release, reports UNB.

 

"It's a good sign. People have started rising against

crimes," Deputy Commissioner of Feni Solaiman

Chowdhury told UNB by phone last night.

 

He said Helaluddin, a rich young man of Nababpur, was

abducted at gunpoint by a group of musclemen Wednesday

night and demanded Tk 5 lakh for his release.

 

As news of his kidnap spread to the area, a group of

young villagers rightly suspected the abductors,

raided their hideout and rescued Helal yesterday

morning. Police rushed to the spot and helped the

rescue team.

 

The abductors, however, managed to escape.

 

The DC could not give details about the abductors.

 

Another report from Madaripur adds: A doctor, his wife

and daughter were kidnapped over a land dispute from

their old town house in the town yesterday and

released after 11 hours with the interference of the

local MP-elect.

 

Police arrested three people, including two women, for

illegally occupying the house of Dr Ranjit Kumar Saha.

 

Police said Dr Saha, his wife Smrity Rani Saha and

daughter Dipti Rani Saha were kidnapped late Wednesday

night over a land dispute with one Moulana Shamsul

Haq.

 

Saha and his family members were released at about 3

pm yesterday following direct and instant interference

of local MP-elect Shahjahan Khan and Municipal

Chairman Khalilur Rahman Khan.

 

Those arrested were identified as Runa Akhter, Rehana

Begum and Emran.

 

Dr Saha alleged that the kidnappers beat him up during

the confinement and forced him to put a signature on

stamp.

 

*********************************

http://www.dailystarnews.com/200110/13/n1101306.htm

Sammilito Samajik Andolon (SSA) organised the rally of

conscious citizens of the country at the Shaheed Minar

premises Thursday in protest of the on going attack

and torture on the religious minorities across the

country. Dr Zillur Rahman Siddiqui presided over the

rally which was moderated by 11-party alliance leader

Pankaj Bhattacharja.

 

 

Hayat Mamood, general secretary of Sammilito Samajik

Andolon, read out the declaration of the rally urging

people from all segments of the society to come

forward with concerted efforts to combat the culprits

who have stigmatised the country. He said that th

eright to cast or not to cast a vote in favour of any

candidate is the democratic right of every citizen. He

expressed strong determination to protect the image of

Bangladesh as a democratic and secular country at any

cost.

 

 

Prof. Khan Sarwar Murshid expressed solidarity with

the declaration of the rally and said "We do not want

to known as a savage, uncivilised and sick nation

before the world."

 

The responsibility of the caretaker government does

not end on the day of the election, rather to tackle

the post election situation is very much within the

responsibilities of the caretaker government, other

speakers said.

 

 

Prof Mezbah Kamal of University of Dhaka questioned

that why the religious minorities would become the

victims for casting their votes for any a 'specific'

party. The party also received a large number of votes

form the Muslims but then why was this intimidation

and torture on the religious minorities and indigenous

people, he asked.

 

 

He also expressed his deep anguish over inclusion of

two ministers in the cabinet from Jamaat-e-Islami

which had played a strong role against the

independence of the country during the Liberation War.

 

 

Among others Dr Anisuzzaman, Dr Syed Anwar Hossain,

Hena Das attended the rally. Later a silent procession

was brought out from Shaheed Minar premises in protest

of the harassment of minorities in the country.

 

 

***************************

http://www.dailystarnews.com/200110/13/n1101301.htm#BODY2

 

"They came to all the houses belonging to our com

munity and asked for huge amounts of money to allow us

to stay home" Gain said.

 

 

Ramesh Chandra Das, an AL leader and UP Chairman of

Raziar, said he had gone into hiding on October 2 as

BNP supporters attacked his house. He was staying with

a friend till October 6 and then his friend asked him

to leave and save his life.

 

 

"At around 3:30 in the morning, I managed a rickshaw

and started for Ramshil," Das said. But on his way, he

was stopped by some hoodlums at Kodaldoha and badly

assaulted. Some 'elderly' locals then rescued him from

the grip of those 'political activists.

 

'

 

 

"I do not know what to do now, we are living in total

uncertainty," he said.

 

 

Many of the 'refugees' said if such atrocities

continue, they would have no option but to leave the

country.

 

 

Ananda Chandra Chakma, a teacher at Torky Bandar

Secondary School, said if the government fails to

ensure security of the minority, he would leave the

country.

 

 

The number of displaced persons taking shelter in

Kotalipara is unofficially estimated to be about

5,000. The authorities however said their number is

about 500.

 

 

Meanwhile, students from the Hindu community have kept

off their schools and colleges throughout the

district, fearing attacks, teachers and other sources

said.

 

\

 

************************

 

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/oct/10/nv4n713.htm#A18

Menezes urges govt for steps to stop attacks on

minorities

 

European Commission head of delegation Ambassador

Antonio de Souza Menezes yesterday appealed to the new

government to take action against those who attack

minorities and maintain law and order.

 

In a statement, he said many NGOs and other

organisations had contacted the European Commission

expressing their concern over the current level of

violence specially against the minority people.

 

Menezes said they had raised the matter with BNP

leaders at recent meetings and requested them to

refrain their partymen from such acts.

 

"But it is still continuing... I strongly urged the

new government to take immediate actions to stop it

and maintain law and order in such areas where attacks

are taking place on minorities and their

property."(UNB)

 

 

******************************

http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/oct/10/10102001ct.htm#A2

25 shops, 50 houses ransacked, 20 injured in post-poll

violence

 

from Our Correspondent

 

COMILLA, Oct 9: Atleast 20 people were injured, two

temples were smashed, 25 shops and 50 houses were

ransacked in the five upazilas of Debidwar, Nangalkot,

Chandina, Choddagram and Barura of the district in

post-poll violences.

 

A group of miscreants ransacked 60 houses of the Hindu

Community at village Kachua in Chandina upazila and

looted valuable goods.

 

The miscreants also ransacked the house of Bidhu

Podder at village Maizkhar, the Shilbari at village

Ailkamura, the Paulbari at village Biralla, the house

of Fakruzzaman at village Haralder, the house of Saheb

Ali Master at village Rasilpur, the house of Paresh

Master at village Barora, the house of Sova Miah at

village Bichunda in Chandina upazila.

 

They looted valuable goods from the houses. All of

them are the supporters of Awami League.

 

The miscreants did not spare the temples. They smashed

Bhramarkandi temple and Kasharikhola Kalibari temple

in Chandina upazila.

 

Four houses were ransacked in Debidwar upazila and

valuable goods were looted from the houses.

 

The houses belonged to Gopal Member and Vajwendra Das

at village Asadnagar, Niranjan Doctor and Nepal

Debnath at village Atapur in the upazila.

 

A total of 23 houses of seven families were ransacked

at villages Sreefalia and Kazi Zoorpukuria in

Nangalkote upazila. Several houses of the Hindu

Community were ransacked at six villages in Barura

upazila. The villages are Belvuz, Talagram, Keshedda,

Sadar, Kamtali an Singur.

 

The Durgapuja Mandap at the house of Doctor Sanatan

Chandra Deb at village Talagram in Barura upazila was

destroyed.

 

The miscreants tortured the female members of

different families at the villages.The miscreants

ransacked the houses of Awami League activists at

villages Mashkara, Basuara, Vangapushkarani, Gazipur

and Kayani in Choddagram upazila.

 

Our Correspondent from Khagrachhari adds: Two people

were injured in Khagrachhari town on October 6.

 

The injured were Rafiqul Alam, district Muktijudda

command and secretary of the district Contractors’

Welfare Samity and Awami League activist Milton Borua.

 

 

Sources said, the violence started when Rafiqul Islam

asked the peon of the samity to close the hall room of

the samity, where some outsiders were watching TV

programme. The TV watchers got excited at the closing

of the hall room.

 

There was an exchange of hot words which turned into a

violence. They equipped lethal weapons attacked

Rafiqul Islam and beat up him. They also stabbed

Milton Borua when he came for Rafiqul Islam’s help.

They set fire to the motorcycle of Rafiqul Islam.

 

The police and the security forces brought the

situation under control and arrested two BNP

activists-Dulal and Helal from the spot.

 

**************************************

http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/oct/10/10102001mt.htm#A10

Nirmul to publish white paper about repression on

minorities

 

by Staff Reporter

 

The Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee (EGDNC)

will soon publish a white paper about the repression

on the minority communities in the country in the

election related violence.

 

The EGDNC took the decision at a roundtable on "The

8th Parliamentary Election and Responsibilities of the

Civil Society in the Post-election Situation" at the

CIRDAP auditorium in the city yesterday.

 

Adviser of the EGDNC Prof Kabir Choudhury presided

over the meeting as there was a vacancy in the chair

of the organisation following the resignation of poet

Shamsur Rahman after a contradiction over the question

of the fairness of the election.

 

Acting president Shahriar Kabir presented the concept

paper. Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid, Prof Muntasir Mamun,

Justice Abdus Sobhan, Prof Panna Kaisar, Prof

Nimchandra Bhoumik, Prof Zerina Rahman Khan, Prof

Mobassher Ali, Prof Borhanuddin Khan Jahangir, Aroma

Dutt, journalist Santosh Gupta, Maolana Abdul Awal,

poet Sayeed Shamsul Huq, Shahin Reza Noor, poet Asad

Choudhury, Anwara Sayeed Huq, Prof Sanjida Khatun and

Wahidul Huq among others took part in the roundtable.

 

They decided to send teams to the affected families

with adequate assistance. The speakers also suggested

arranging legal aid and raising the issue in the

international tribunal, countrywide signature

collection move condemning such incidents and

arranging special securities in the minority areas.

 

The speakers expressed apprehension that the

Four-Party Alliance, using the absolute majority in

the parliament might change the constitution and

transform the country into the ideology of Pakistan

and Afghanistan.

 

They said that the election was designed to ensure

victory of a particular party.

 

They alleged that the observers and journalists did

not go to the remote polling centres where, they

alleged, there were a massive rigging of votes.

 

They said that the role of the caretaker government in

the election had questioned the credibility of the

system.

 

They called upon all the political, social and

cultural pro-liberation forces to be united to resist

the communal forces that was going to take the power

of the country under the banner of Four-Party

Alliance.

 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Bangladesh

Sankhalaghu Kalyan Samity and Samprodayik Sampriti

Parishad condemned the oppression on the minority

communities and demanded immediate steps to stop such

inhuman activities.

 

**********************************

http://www.dailystarnews.com/200110/11/n1101110.htm

 

Minorities in 3 Pabna UZs fleeing houses

 

Torture, arson alleged

 

Our Correspondent, Pabna

 

 

Members of the minority community in some areas of

three upazilas in the district are allegedly being

subjected to attacks and threats by 'terrorists'

following the October 1 election. The upazilas are

Chatmohar, Sujanagar and Bera.

A number of them have left their houses and taken

shelter in other places including the district town,

fearing attacks. Particularly, young girls and their

parents in those areas are spending their days in

great tension, reports received from the areas said.

 

Leaders of the Hindu community alleged that at least

400 minority families in Sujanagar upazila fled their

houses following 'torture' on them by 'terrorists'.

 

 

Local Awami League and BNP-led four-party alliance

blamed each other for the situation.

 

District BNP leaders however urged members of the

minority community to remain at their houses and not

to be panicked.

 

Sources said that after the election, attacks on

minority people increased in Goarea, Udoypur,

Hashemkhali, Manikhat, Satbaria, Dulai, Char Dulai,

Nischintapur and Bhatpara villages under Sujanagar

upazila.

 

Terrorists set fire to the house of one Kantikumar at

Jorpukur on Saturday. A case was filed with Sujanagar

thana in this regard.

 

Besides, extortionists demanded Tk five lakh from one

Pradeep Kumar at Hatkhali village.

 

 

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khandakar Mokhlesur Rahman and

Officer in-Charge of Sujanagar thana Mozammel Haq

admitted that there were some attacks on minority

community. But all incidents were not reported to

police, they mentioned.

 

 

Additional police camps were set up and police patrol

was intensified in those areas, they said.

 

In Bera Upazila, allegations of such attacks were

received from Khanpura, Bamondi, Hatigara, Bat Tala

and Kazirhat villages. Shops belonging to minority

community members were ransacked on Friday. One

person, Sukhan Goha of Khanpura village, allegedly

remained missing for the last three days.

 

 

The minority leaders alleged that terrorists

threatened and asked members of their community in

Gunaighachha, Foiljana and Geroli villages in

Chatmohar upazila to leave the country.

 

Those elements even damaged an idol in a temple at

Foiljana on Sunday, they said.

 

In such a situation, members of the Hindu community

have become reluctant to celebrate their greatest

religious festival -- Durga Puja --the leaders pointed

out.

 

 

*****************************

BNP activists create reign of terror in districts

 

Looting, beating, ransacking, extortion,

 

torture on minority, AL activists rampant

 

>From Our Correspondent

 

MYMENSINGH, Oct 8:–Looting, ransacking, beating,

extortion by unruly activists of BNP are now regular

affair in different villages of Gafargaon upazila

causing anxiety among the people.

 

Many supporters of Awami League and members of

minority community were subjected to torture by unruly

activists of BNP.

 

At least 50 persons who were chopped and beaten by the

unruly activists of BNP admitted to Mymensingh Medical

College Hospital, Gafargaon Upazila Health Complexes

and Basundhara Hospital of the district town in six

days ending on October 7.

 

Some persons were abducted from their houses and were

released after good beating.

 

At least 1000 houses and shops belonging to supporters

of Awami League and members of minority group were

looted and ransacked during the period.

 

The unruly BNP activists also assaulted and violated

some women and they charged some rich people with

heavy tolls as they voted for Awami League.

 

The post-poll torture has created panic among the

supporters of Awami League and members of the minority

group at Rouha, Barobaria, Saltia, Datter Bazar,

Mashakhali, Panchbag, Basutia, Pailab, Neguari,

Shilashi, Athardana, Maizhati, Bagua, Bakhura and

Haturia villages under the upazila.

 

Many people of the Hindu community fled away from

their houses in fear of attack on them.

 

None is daring to file case against these incidents.

 

The newly elected AL MP Alhaj Altaf Hossain Golandaz

from Gafargaon seat (Mymensingh-10) told me that the

law enforcing agencies are playing a passive role but

the police as per instruction of BNP leaders are

trying to arrest Awami League workers. These attacks

were made pre-planned to terrorise AL supporters added

the newly elected AL MP.

 

Gafargaon police said they are trying to bring the

situation under control. In the meantime they arrested

six persons in this regard.

 

Some leaders of the district unit of BNP denied the

allegations of involving of BNP activists in these

incidents.

 

Natore

 

Our Natore correspondent states: The law and order

situation has deteriorated in Natore since the holding

of parliament election on October 1 in the country. At

present, the situation in some parts of the district

is worst.

 

Following the announcement of results of the election,

killing, beating, stealing and plundering are going on

freely.

 

Three persons were killed and hundreds injured and

many houses were looted in a week in the district.

 

Swadhin (30), son of Zillur Rahman of Baragachha

Mahalla of Natore town was killed by his business

partners. In this connection police arrested Rony,

Shahidul and Uzzal while Kalu Mia went into hiding.

 

The same day a teen aged boy was slaughtered. Later

the body of Rabiul Islam was found in the cane-field.

 

One Afsar Ali (20), an Awami League activist was shot

dead in village Halti Pourbapara under sadar upazila

of the district in post election violence.

 

One Suman (17) was killed when the BNP activists beat

him mercilessly at village Arbab under Lalpur upazila

of the district. At least 20 people were injured in

the clash.

 

The activists and supporters of Awami League at

Chandrakhair village under Bagatipara upazila of the

district are being tortured by the local BNP

activists.

 

Attack on women

 

In this violence many houses were damaged. Attempts

were made to violate women. Goods valued Tk 50 lakhs

were looted.

 

The Awami League activists and supporters of some

parts of the district are now hiding to other places

in fear of attack.

 

In this connection separate cases were filed in

different police stations. But there is no police

action.

 

Pabna

 

Our Pabna correspondent states: Violence situation has

been prevailing in different areas of the Pabna

district particularly in Sujanagar upazila, Bera and

Shanthia upazila and makes the life of Awami League

leaders, workers and minorities miserable during last

6 days.

 

Most of the Awami League leaders and minority people

left their villages and they took shelter in different

villages of different upazilas and districts.

http://www.bangladesh.net/observer/show.php3?p=5

The villagers told this correspondent that 4 girls

were kidnapped including three Hindu girls. The Hindu

girls were kidnapped from Kapalipara of Binedangi

village and from Manikhat. She is identified as a

daughter of a freedom fighter Kader.

 

After the polls the BNP activists created a reign of

terror and violence in different villages in the

upazila and about 200 people were injured, looted

valuables and ransacked their houses. A group of

mastans has created panic in the area. They demanded

tool to the local AL workers and also the minority

people.

 

Mohammad Jalaluddin of village Ulat under Sujanagar

upazila told our correspondent that he left house

immediately after polls. Jalaluddin is the Joint

Secretary of Manikhat Union AL. He is living in a

neighbouring village. Saiful Islam, Secretary of

Manikhat union AL said that he left his village on

October 3. His house was ransacked and looted

valuables by the BNP activists, he said.

 

On October 3, a group of mastans attacked Akhter

Hossain and beaten him at Bonkola bridge while he was

going to Chardulai for safety. A group of mastans

attacked Titu. He was critically injured. He is

admitted to Pabna General Hospital. A huge number of

Awami League workers and supporters are living in this

village for last one week.

 

One 56-year old woman told this corespondent that a

group of mastans looted valuables and ransacked the

house of Mowlabi Montaz of village Bonkola in the

night of October 6. The valuables of the house were

looted. They also looted the houses of minority

members Kumbha Banik of village Goaria under Sujanagar

village on October 4 and demanded toll. Another

minority Hatkhali village told this correspondent that

the mastans demanded Tk 5 lakh to him immediately

otherwise his house was looted.

 

The affected areas are Manikhat, Khetupara, Bonkola,

Khayran, Kuripara, Zonarampur, Hatkhali, Satbaria,

Binedangi, Narashinhapur, Nazirganj, Goaria, Udaypur,

Ulat under Sujanagar upazila and Pagla under Shanthia

upazila.

 

One Alhadini Rani of village Pagla under Shanthia

upazila is now under treatment when the BNP activists

raped her.

 

It is learned that most of the minority people and AL

workers left their houses in fear attack. A few young

women fled away from their houses.

 

 

 

Three killed in separate incidents in Narail

 

from A Correspondent

 

NARAIL, Oct 7 : Three persons, including two children,

were killed in separate incidents in the district

recently.

 

Two children drowned in a pond at Ichorbaha village in

Sadar upazila of the district on October 4 morning.

 

The victims were identified as Jhumur (7), daughter of

Narayan Saha and Trishna (5), daughter of Shushanto

Roy of the village. The victims were cousins. Local

sources said the children fell into the pond while

playing together at the ghat of the pond and

drowned.After search the bodies of the victims were

found floating in the pond. A pall of gloom descended

the village following the tragic deaths.

 

 

http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/oct/08/08102001cr.htm#A3

Temples in N’ganj come under gun attack

 

from Our Correspondent

 

NARAYANGANJ, Oct 7: A gang of unidentified gunmen

fired at the temples of Deobhogh Luxmi Narayan Akhra

and Galachipa Ramkarai Jagannath Geor Akhra at about

4.45 am today.

 

The custodian of Luxmi Narayan Akhra, Rajendra Prashad

Jha said a gang of armed terrorists wearing black

masks came from Nandipara to the temple and fired

about three to four rounds of shot.

 

Another gang of armed terrorists fired at Galachipa

Ramkanai Jagannath Akhra temple. The armed terrorists

left the scene safely. However, nobody was injured in

the incidents.

 

Police Super of Narayanganj Abdus Sattar Khan said

necessary steps were being taken to deal with the

situation.

 

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Abdul Matin

Chowdhury said the Awami League is carrying out the

incidents for destroying communal harmony in the

country. Chowdhury alleged Awami League was trying to

create an unstable situation in the country.

 

 

 

Nizami congratulates people

 

by Staff Reporter

 

Jamaat Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and

Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed

yesterday congratulated the countrymen for their

spontaneous and active participation in the 8th

parliamentary election in the country.

 

In a joint press statement, they said that through

this election the people proved once again that none

had power to break up the unity of the people to

uphold the democratic process. "In order to defend

independence and Muslim identity and Islamic values of

the country this historic verdict by the countrymen

for the four-party alliance will remain written in

golden letters in history" they added.

 

They also congratulated the Caretaker Government,

Chief Election Commissioner, all officials deployed in

the election, employees, journalists, radio and TV

officials, and all concerned including law enforcing

agency personnel for helping hold the election in a

free, fair and impartial manner.

 

 

http://www.south-asia.com/himal/April/chakma.htm

 

http://www.banglarights.net/HTML/significantcases.htm

 

http://www.dailystarnews.com/200109/28/n1092807.htm

One killed in Khagrachhari

 

 

 

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

 

 

Gunfire left one person killed and four others injured

at Dighinala in the district yesterday.

 

Unidentified miscreants in ambush fired at the people

in Baradam area, Dighinala, who were returning to

Babuchhara from an election rally of United Democratic

People's Front (UDPF) at Choungrachhari, killing on

the spot Pritti Bhula Chakma, 23, said security force

sources.

 

Injured were Uttam Chakma, 25, Milan Kanti Chakma, 27,

Regan Chakma, 27, and Amar Bikash Chakma, 22.

 

 

Of them, three critically injured were admitted to

Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital, and the remaining one to

the local health complex.

 

 

When the security personnel on patrol rushed to the

spot immediately after the incident, the miscre ants

fled, leaving behind two SBBL (single barrel bore

long) guns, which were handed over to police later.

 

 

With the news of attack spreading, the UDPF workers

brought out a procession in the district town, blaming

the attack on the Jana Sanghati Samity that is going

to boycott the coming election.

 

 

The incident occurred amid mounting tension in the

district, adding to the count of violent incidents in

which four UDPF workers were killed and 20 injured in

the last 15 days.

 

http://www.dailystarnews.com/200109/28/n1092801.htm#BODY1

EC asks for special steps to ensure minority voting

 

134 constituencies singled out

 

Nazrul Islam

 

 

The Election Commission (EC) has asked the home

ministry to take special measures in 134 parliamentary

constituencies where the minority community is

reportedly threatened by certain political quarters to

stop them from exercising their franchise.

The Commission at a meeting yesterday reviewed the

latest situation across the country and asked the

ministry to ensure peaceful holding of the ensuing

general election.

 

Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Syed,

the meeting underscored further beefing up security

throughout the country to check growing incidents of

violence.

 

 

Later on the day, a three-member delegation of the

European Union who met the CEC at his office also

expressed concern over the incidents of attack and

intimidation of the minority community and urged the

Commission to take immediate steps to stop this.

 

 

 

 

Earlier, Awami League (AL) had lodged complaints with

the EC that BNP and four-party alliance led by it is

making attacks on the minority community, known as

AL's vote bank, so that they do not turn up at polling

centres on the election day.

 

 

Meanwhile, an EC source said the CEC has proposed to

the caretaker government to further strengthen his

security during the election period. It could not be

officially confirmed.

 

When asked, an Election Commissioner said he is not

aware of this. "But nothing is unlikely as the CEC

takes decisions in a secret way." He however preferred

not to be named

 

After the EC meeting, the CEC met Chief Advisor of the

caretaker government Latifur Rahman at his office and

apprised him of last minute preparations for the

election. Details of the meeting were not available.

 

 

Sources said the EC which met yesterday after three

days also took up issues including inconsistencies in

voter list, printing and sending of ballot papers to

Returning Officers (ROs) and announcement of election

result.

 

 

The meeting discussed measures to be taken on the

voting in case of violence and rigging. " Polling will

be stopped immediately if violence and rigging take

place in any polling station and re-polling will be

arranged," an official told this correspondent quoting

the meeting's decisions.

 

 

Regarding inconsistencies in the voter list, the

Commission asked officials concerned to follow the

list finalised on October 26 last year. It also

decided not to include new names in the list,

excepting special cases.

 

EC sources said, sending of ballot papers to the ROs

was completed yesterday. This time nearly 7.5 crore

ballot papers were printed.

 

 

Meanwhile, the EC corrected the voter list following

complaints. According to available statistics, it

received 24,459 complaints and investigated 3,000