The incident of desecration of Holy Quran in Comilla has spread tension in different parts of the country. In the last 24 hours, at least 17 temples and shrines have been attacked and vandalized. 4 people were shot dead in the crowd-police clash in Hajiganj of Chandpur. The administration has issued section 144 for an indefinite period in the upazila. More than 150 journalists and policemen were injured in clashes and chases in several other districts. More than half a hundred have been arrested.
Four cases have been registered in connection with the recovery of the Holy Quran Sharif from a pujamandap in Comilla city last Wednesday. The district administration has formed an investigation committee to look into the incident. To avoid any unpleasant incident, BGB has been deployed in 22 districts of the country including Comilla, Narsingdi, Munshiganj said BGB Director (Operation) Lieut. Colonel Faizur Rahman.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is said to have taken a strict stance on such an unpleasant incident during Durgotsava, the biggest religious event of the Bengali Hindu community in the country. The Prime Minister said, 'No exemption will be given to anyone in the Comilla incident. The matter is being investigated. Irrespective of their religion, they will be brought to justice.' He said this while exchanging greetings with devotees at the central pujamandap of Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital yesterday from Gana Bhavan virtually.
On the same day, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader MP while visiting Ramkrishna Mission Pujamandap at Gopi Bagh in the capital said that the Prime Minister has directed the administration to take strict action against those who disrupt peace and order through communal incitement. At the same time, Awami League leaders and activists have been asked to be on alert. It is known that the Awami League has instructed the party leaders and workers across the country to be vigilant in the ongoing situation. In particular, all the places of worship have been asked to be on alert.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that those involved in the Comilla incident will be caught soon. He said this in response to the questions of the journalists after meeting with the chiefs of all intelligence forces including police, BGB, RAB and senior officials of the law and order forces at the secretariat yesterday.
4 shot dead in Hajiganj
Chandpur correspondent and Hajiganj correspondent said that three youths and a teenager were shot dead in the clash between the angry crowd and the police over the attack on several temples in the upazila. Of these, 3 died on Wednesday night and one on Thursday morning while undergoing treatment at Comilla Medical College. These clashes took place in front of several pujamandaps including the Lakshminarayan Jew Akhara (Trinayani), the Vivekananda Vidyapeeth temple, the municipal crematorium, the zamindar bari of the Hajiganj municipal area around 8:30 pm on Wednesday.
The deceased are: Bablu (35), son of Samchu of Sunderpur Bagdanga area of Sundarpur Bagdanga area of Chapainawabganj district, Tiles Mistry, Al Amin (18), son of Tajul Islam, son of Shuku Commissioner of Ward No. 11, Randhuni Mura of Hajiganj Municipal Area, Sekander Bepari of the same ward. Fazlu's son Huday (14) and Randhunimura's Bachchu's son Shamim (19). The matter of death was confirmed by Sultan Mahmud, Emergency Medical Officer of Hajiganj Upazila Health Complex.
The traders of Hajiganj market said that after Esha prayer, around 8:30 am, the angry mob attacked Lakshmi Narayan Jew's Akhara and nearby Ashram with a procession. Police fired shots and TR cells to bring the situation under control. At that time, 30/35 people including police, journalists and pedestrians were injured. Bablu, Al-Amin, Huday and Shamim who were seriously injured were rescued from the spot and taken to the hospital where they died.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chandpur. Milan Mahmud said that the situation is currently under control. A lot of security arrangements are made in every temple. Meanwhile, the administration has issued section 144 in Hajiganj upazila for an indefinite period in this incident. Anjana Khan Majlish, Deputy Commissioner of Chandpur, said that a 5-member investigation committee headed by the Additional District Magistrate has been formed in this incident.
Comilla case, arrest 41
Comilla representative said, immediately in the case of desecration of the Holy Quran in a pujamandap on the north bank of Nanua Dighi in the city, Md. Police have arrested 41 people till Thursday afternoon in connection with attacks and vandalism in various parts of the city after this incident. One under the Digital Security Act making Faiz the sole accused and three more cases against unidentified persons including those arrested in connection with the attack-vandalism. Besides, the police are looking for the heroes behind this incident behind Faiz who called the police on 999. In this incident, Comilla district administration has formed a 3-member investigation committee. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan and Superintendent of Police Farooq Ahmed gave this information in a press briefing at the District Commissioner's office in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Awami League Central Organizing Secretary (Chittagong Division) and Jatiya Sangsad Whip Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan MP and Chittagong Range DIG of Police Anwar Hossain came to Comilla on Thursday morning. They held regular meetings with the district and police administration along with the puja celebration committee. Abu Saeed, the head of the team, said during the inspection of the incident that no one involved in the incident will be exempted. Meanwhile, despite the continued patrolling of law and order forces in the city, the public's fear has not subsided.
DIG Chittagong Range of Police Md. Anwar Hussain told reporters that there will be a case for every incident and no one will be spared, whoever is the culprit. Comilla Superintendent of Police Farooq Ahmed said that four places of worship in the city were attacked and 6 pylons were vandalized. Law and order forces are on high alert to prevent any untoward incident ahead of Juma and idol worship on Friday.
Hundreds were injured in the clashes in LamaLama (Bandarban) Correspondent said that more than a hundred people from both sides including the officer in charge of Lama Police Station were injured in the three-way clash in the upazila based on the protest rally. At that time, the agitated mob vandalized the Durga Puja pandals, shops and furniture built on the road in front of the central Lama temple. Police fired at least 20 rounds of tear shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. Along with the police, army, BGB and Ansar have been deployed at the spot.
Statue vandalized in Gazipur, 20 arrested
Gazipur representative said that miscreants vandalized idols by attacking three temples in Kashimpur area of the city. These incidents of vandalism took place on Thursday between 7 am and 7:30 am. Leaders of the puja committee said that Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple in Kashimpur Bazar, Palpara Durga Temple and Puja Mandapam at Subal's house were attacked and vandalized. About three hundred people participated in the attack. Meanwhile, they arrested 20 attackers and handed them over to the police. Deputy Commissioner SM Tariqul Islam confirmed the truth of vandalism.
Shivganj temple attack
Shibganj (Chapainawabganj) correspondent said that a group of people attacked the Jagarni Chakra temple in Manaksha Bazar of the upazila and broke the gates and lights during the procession around 10 o'clock on Wednesday night. Later, they fled due to the resistance of the locals. Police arrested 11 people for questioning in this incident.
6 temples vandalized in Lakshmipur
Ramganj (Laxmipur) Correspondent said, 5 temples were attacked in Ichapur Union of Ramganj, Laxmipur. During this time, miscreants vandalized 16 idols. This incident happened around 11:30 pm on Wednesday. In addition to the administration, the local member of parliament Dr. Anwar Khan visited the spot. Ramganj police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Anwar Hossain said that a case has been filed in this incident and the criminals will be brought under the law after investigation.
Meanwhile, at the same time miscreants attacked Sri Sri Ramthakurangan Temple and Pujamandap adjacent to Zamindarhat Bazaar in Ramgati Municipality. At that time, the police controlled the situation by firing lathicharge, 54 rounds of shotguns and three rounds of tear gas. At least 15 people including four policemen were injured in this incident. The police have filed a case against 250 anonymous persons as defendants, said the officer-in-charge (OC) of Ramgati police station Mohammad Solaiman.
7 temples vandalized and set on fire in Ulipur, 18 arrested
The angry crowd vandalized and set fire to about 7 temples in Ulipur of Kurigram. The incident took place in Gunaigach, Thetrai and Hatia Unions of the upazila on Wednesday night, centered on the incident of desecration of the Holy Quran Sharif in a worship hall in Comilla. Police have arrested 18 people on suspicion of being involved in the temple attack and vandalism.
15 injured in Bagmara clashStaff reporter, Rajshahi and Bagmara correspondent said that 15 people were injured in the clash of angry crowd with the police in Bhabaniganj of Upazila Sadar yesterday due to the incident of Comilla. In this regard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farooq Sufian said that this chaotic incident occurred due to the taunting of a Hindu youth about the Holy Quran. But currently the situation is normal.
Pujamandap vandalized in Daudkandi
Daudkandi (Comilla) Correspondent said, on Wednesday evening, there was vandalism in a pujamandap in Dakshin Nagar village of Maligao Union of the upazila.
Inciting poster arrested
RAB has arrested a young man named Golam Mawla on the charge of hurting religious sentiments and destroying communal harmony by spreading misinformation on social media about Comilla incident. He was arrested from Comilla headquarters last night. Senior ASP ANM Imran, Senior Assistant Director of Law and Media Wing of RAB, confirmed the matter last night. He said that Golam Mawla created inflammatory posts on Facebook ID named 'GM Sunny HD Media' and various videos on YouTube and spread them on social media.
