New Delhi, Oct 2 (IBNS): The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) on Tuesday condemned ongoing attacks on the Buddhist and Hindu communities in Bangladesh.
The attacks have been going on in Ramu, Ukhia, Patia and Teknaf under the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh by the Muslim religious fanatics since the evening of Sept 29, ACHR said.
At least 24 temples have been burnt down, dozens of Buddhist villages attacked displacing thousands people from the minority community, the group said.
ACHR said that according last reports received on midnight of Sept 30, the religious fanatics had burnt down the Paschimratna Sudarshon Buddhist Vihar, situated in the heart of Ukhia upazila's Court Bazaar area.
The 24 temples burnt include 15 in Ramu Upazila (sub-district), four in Patia Police Station and five under Ukhia Upazila, the group said.
The burnt temples include 22 Buddhist temples and two Hindu temples while about 100 houses belonging to the Buddhist minorities have also been torched, ACHR said.
The attackers smashed the Buddhist statues and set fire to a statue of Goddess Durga at the Nobarun Sangha Mandir.
“It is clear that 24 hours since the attacks were launched, the security forces including the Bangladesh Police and the Rapid Action Battalion remain mute witness to the systematic violence against religious minorities.
"The security forces have failed to arrest any of the culprits. The only person arrested was one Mr Uttam Kumar Barua, a Buddhist minority.” – stated Suhas Chakma, Director of ACHR.
“The latest attacks are part of wider conspiracy against religious minorities in which the Bangladesh Army personnel and the Islamic religious fundamentalists are involved," Chakma claimed.
In separate communications, the ACHR urged the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to intervene into the attacks.
