Bangladesh : HC says attack on Hindus is 'terrorism against state'

February 14, 2014 

Magh Pournima, Kaliyug Varsha 5115

The High Court yesterday labelled the recent attacks on Hindus in 12 districts after the January 5 election as “terrorism against the state” and ordered the police to include sedition charge in the first information reports filed against the perpetrators.

When the matter came for hearing, the court asked the state counsel why the allegation of sedition had not been mentioned in the cases. It said the atrocities were “terrorism against the state.”

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain first gave a verbal order in this regard; it issued a written order after Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy had asked for it.

On January 15, the same bench on its own motion said it was quite apparent that the law enforcement agencies had failed to protect the interests of citizens, especially the minority communities and vulnerable groups, which prompted the court to pass the order.

It directed the police chief to submit a report within seven days mentioning the measures taken for protecting these people as well as actions against those directly or indirectly responsible for the atrocities.

The court also directed the government and law enforcers to take immediate steps to protect the life, liberty, properties and dignity of citizens by deploying forces in Dhaka, Natore, Jessore, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Satkhira, Jhalakathi, Tangail, Bogra, Pirojpur, Chandpur and Netrakona.

According to section 124A of the Penal Code 1860, the highest punishment for sedition is imprisonment for life.

Reports of attacks on Hindus and pro-government activists started coming in the media after the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance launched non-stop blockades on November 26 to foil the January 5 general election. The attackers carried out killings and rapes, and attacked the houses, business establishments and temples of the Hindus.

Following the incidents, local authorities filed cases against identified and unnamed people under the Penal Code.

In mid-January, the government took an initiative to establish a special tribunal to deal with the post-election violence, especially that against religious minorities.

The home ministry made the decision and sent a letter to the law ministry, asking for arrangements to be made for constituting the tribunal dubbed “the special tribunal to check crimes committed on the minorities.”

The ministry also ordered the divisional and district headquarters authorities to urgently send certified copies of the first information reports, charge sheets and other documents relating to the attacks – killings, rapes, torture, arson attacks, lootings and land grabbing.

Compensate Pabna Hindus

The same bench yesterday on its own initiative directed the government to pay Tk43.42 lakh as compensation to the affected Hindu families of Santhia upazila in Pabna by three weeks for the mayhem of November 2 and arrest the perpetrators immediately.

A probe committee, formed upon the court’s order of November 3, estimated the amount for affected 33 families, 29 houses, 10 business establishments and seven temples at Banagram Bazar.

The bench had ordered the authorities concerned to assess the losses and the damage incurred in the attacks and find out the persons who spread the rumour that a Hindu had insulted Prophet Muhammad (SM) on Facebook. It had also ordered to deploy adequate law enforcers in the affected area.

Yesterday, the court ordered for the compensation after a police probe committee submitted a report on the attacks.

The compensation would be distributed through the Pabna district deputy commissioner, Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy said.

Source : Dhaka Tribune