Sectarian violence part of conspiracy: NHRC boss

 

 

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman UNB, Dhaka

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said on Saturday that the recent attacks on the Buddhist community were carried out as part of a conspiracy against the state.
“A section of people launched the attacks on the households and temples of the Buddhist community in a planned way under a blueprint to jeopardise the security of the state, and create anarchy in the country,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a discussion at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
The NHRC chairman said the aim of the well-orchestrated attacks by a motley groups were to spread one kind of hatred among the Buddhist minority against the country.
Referring to his Friday’s visit to the violence-hit areas in Cox’s Bazar, he said the local public representatives spoke at the rallies and joined demonstrations against the Buddhist community before the attacks. “They also brought in armed outsiders to intensify the attacks.”
Mizanur Rahman said local people were directly involved in the violence because they conducted the attacks identifying the Buddhists. “During the attacks, the golden statues of Budda were stolen, and the attackers damaged selected structures. It proves that local people were involved in the attacks.”
After the attacks, he said, the Buddhist countries are showing negative attitude towards Bangladesh. “Sri Lanka has already shown their protest.”
About the role of the law-enforcing agencies, he said when tension was prevailing prior to the attacks, the in-charge of Ramu Police Station told the Buddhist priests that they and their temples were safe and everything was under their control.
“But the police ultimately found reluctant to resist the attacks,” the NHRC chairman said the police put barricades on the roads in the riot-hit areas to help the attackers escape.
Criticising the role of the intelligence, he said if the intelligence agencies had no information about the attacks, “They’ve failed totally. And if they had any information of the possible attacks, why wasn’t action taken? Someone has to take the responsibility.”
Mizanur Rahman said the government must identify those who are behind the attacks. “If the local representatives are quizzed, it is not impossible to identify them,” he said.
He said the NHRC will submit a set of recommendations to the home ministry soon in this regard.
Replying to a query, he said the prime minister will visit the violence-torn areas on Monday and it is necessary.