The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council on Monday claimed that 257 incidents of communal violence in the first six months of this year affected 261 members of religious minority and indigenous communities across the country.
The organisation said the monthly average of killings and land-grabbing incidents had increased compared with last year and urged the government to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of minorities. It also placed an eight-point set of demands.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka, acting general secretary Monindra Kumar Nath presented the figures in a written statement. He said the statistics had been compiled from reports published in newspapers, other media outlets and the organisation’s own sources.
According to the council, 44 people were killed in 40 separate incidents between January and June.
It also documented five incidents involving violence against women, including rape and gang rape; 62 attacks on places of worship involving vandalism, looting and arson; 15 cases of land grabbing involving religious institutions; 47 attacks on homes and businesses involving vandalism, looting and arson; 10 incidents of abduction, extortion and torture; nine cases of arrest and abuse over allegations of blasphemy; 21 incidents of forcible land occupation; and six other incidents.
Leaders of the organisation alleged that victims in many cases were denied justice and that those responsible were often not brought to justice. They called for more effective government action to ensure the safety of lives, property and places of worship.
As an immediate measure, the organisation demanded that spreading rumours, incitement and religiously motivated hate speech be treated as “harmful acts” under the Special Powers Act, with those responsible brought to justice.
It also called for a zero-tolerance policy against communal violence, official recognition of religious minorities and indigenous communities as vulnerable groups, and the disqualification of individuals involved in communal crimes from contesting elections.
The council’s eight-point demand includes the enactment of a Minority Protection Act; the establishment of a National Minority Commission and a Ministry of Minority Affairs; resolving disputes under the Vested Property Act and returning land to its rightful owners; reserving 60 directly elected seats for minorities in parliament; enacting anti-discrimination legislation; full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord; introducing a law to protect debottar (Hindu temple trust) property; and declaring additional public holidays for Durga Puja, Probarona Purnima and Easter Sunday.
The organisation also alleged that members of minority communities were facing discrimination in government recruitment and administrative decisions.
It claimed that 16 of the 55 recently dismissed female officials and 82 of the 227 candidates excluded from the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) recruitment process belonged to minority communities. It described these measures as contrary to the law and human rights.
The council also expressed concern over proposals made by the Constitution Reform Commission. Its leaders said removing the principle of secularism from the Constitution would undermine religious freedom and the constitutional protections guaranteed to minority communities.
Speaking at the press conference, Presidium Member Ranjan Karmakar said the organisation envisioned a non-communal and secular Bangladesh where no communal force could undermine religious harmony.
Council President Nirmal Rozario said the organisation expected the government to ensure proper investigation and justice in every case of persecution against minorities. He warned that if such incidents continued, the organisation would be compelled to announce a broader protest programme.
