Dhaka, Pretr. The violence that started during Durga Puja in Bangladesh is not taking its name to stop. Attackers damaged 66 Hindu houses and set about 20 houses on fire in Rangpur district on Sunday night, amid ongoing protests by minority communities against attacks on puja pavilions and temples.
On the other hand, ISKCON has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take strict action against the attackers and provide security to Hindus.
According to bdnews24.com, over 100 people set fire to a village in Peerganj in Rangpur district. The report quoted Superintendent of Police Muhammad Kamarujamman as saying that a Facebook post had spread rumors of blasphemy, after which the police were dispatched there. No casualties have been reported. About 52 suspects have been arrested.
The fire department said 29 houses, two kitchens, two barns and 20 piles of dry grass were torched in Piroganj Majhipara area. The information was received around 9.45 pm and the fire was brought under control at 4.10 am. According to ANI, local leader Muhammad Sadiqul Islam said that the attack was carried out by Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.
It is noteworthy that after the spread of blasphemy rumors at a Durga Puja pandal in Kumilla area, fundamentalist Muslims had attacked puja pandals and temples in different parts of the country and assaulted Hindus. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has alleged that at least four Hindu devotees have been killed in the attacks in Chandpur and Noakhali.
