RELIGIOUS MINORITY PERSECUTION: GOING UNABATED IN BANGLADESH: A FEW RECENT EXAMPLES

An Adibashi (aboriginal) leader of Madupur Upazila of Tangail district dies in custody of law and order protecting agency: Source: The Daily Prothom Alo, 20th March 07: From Our Correspondent
TANGAIL, March 20: Cholesh Risil, an Adibashi leader died in custody of the law protecting agency in Madupur upazila of Tangail district. The family of Risil held law protecting agency and officials of the forest department responsible for the death of Risil. The Adibashi people gave a memorandum to the District Commissioner demanding punishment of the perpetrators involved. The family members of Risil told that Risil, his sister's husband Protap Simsang and bridegroom Tuhin Hadima and his father Piren Simsang were returning to Madhupur by a microbus after attending a marriage ceremony on Sunday afternoon. When the microbus reached near Kalibari bus stand of Muktagacha upazila, police at that time arrested them and took them to Kakrayed camp of Madupur upazila but later police released Tuhin and Piren in the evening keeping Risil and Protap in their custody. Rani Simsang, first wife of Risil told that members of law protecting agency left Protap in state of serious injury in his house at about 11 pm on Sunday night. He was admitted into Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. She also told that they got the news of death of Risil through Protap. Satjina Nokrek, second wife of Risil complained that after hearing the news of the arrest of Risil, she went to the camp of law protecting team but there she was threatened. Moazzem Hossain, Assistant Police Super and Riaz Hossain, OC of Madhupur police station denied the death of Risil after repression and also told Risil was an accused of about 30 cases filed by the forest department. Police claimed that when police went to arrest him, Risil tried to flee away and then after running away a little far distant, Risil fell on the road and lost his sense and then he was admitted into Madhupur Upazila Health Complex where he died at about 8:30 pm. The Adibashi people gathered on Tangail- Mymensingh high way yesterday morning after they heard about the death of Risil. A huge contingent of police was deployed there to keep the situation under control. A representative team of Adibashi at 11 am submitted a memorandum to the DC through Dr. A. M. Parvez, Madhupur Upazila Executive Officer for the dismissal of those members of law protecting agency involved in the death of Risil and they also demanded a fair justice to the death of Risil. UNO admitted receiving the memorandum and told that he would send it to the right place as soon as possible. The dead body of Risil was handed over at the church of Jolchatra in the afternoon. Later Adibashi with a silent procession took his dead body to Risil's village home Magantinagar. OC Riaz told that an unnatural death case was lodged in this connection. Risil was a strong organizer of the movement waged to protect the right of the Adibashi of Madhupr after the forest department took a decision to make Eco Park in the forest of Madhupur.

A minority fisherman killed in Bagerhat district (The Daily Sangbad, 02nd March 07):
BAGERHAT, March 2: A minority fisherman named Shet Sarkar(48) was killed in Jelepalli (fisherman village) of Dublachar of Sharankhola range of Bagerhat district of south Sundraban division on Tuesday night. Prince Sarkar, son of dead Shet Sarkar lodged a case in this connection with Sharankhola police station accusing 6 persons. Police and fishermen told that Shet Sarkar maintained his family by catching fish from Dublachar fisherman area. On the day of occurrence, Kamal Uddin, vice president of Fishermen Group and 6-7 more fish traders beat up Shet Sarkar and his accomplice Liton Biswas in allegation of stealing. Later Shet Sarkar died on the spot. Police recovered the dead body and sent it to Bagerhat sadar (town) hospital.

Terrorists carried attack in minority Palli (village) of Parbatipur of Dinajpur district, shallow machine looted and 20 injured (The Daily Ajker Kagoj, 18th March 07):
PARBATIPUR, March 18: About 20 persons including children and women were injured in an attack of the terrorists in Parbatipur of Dinajpur district on March 12 over the incident of giving and taking diesel for shallow machine. The injured persons were: Dipak (9), Kumad (45), Anukul (35), Ramanath (46), Koushala (55), Prema (20), Joyanta (15), Archana (32), Josna (30), Maya (28), Falguni (45) and Mahesh Dhamalu (40). The condition of five of them stated to be critical. When family members of Anukul protested the incident then perpetrators led by Mojibur and Tohubur giving slogan like "Finish off Hindus and send them to India" swooped on them. The perpetrators carried the attack in the area for about 4 hours. The perpetrators also looted shallow machine and other tools of irrigation of Anukul.

A minority adolescent girl was raped in Satkhira district. Case lodged against seven persons including lawyers (The Daily Janokontho, 21st march 07):
SATKHIRA, March 21: A case was lodged against seven persons including four members of Satkhira district Lawyers Association in allegation of assisting to abduct and rape a Hindu minority adolescent girl. Laxmirani, mother of the raped girl as a complainant lodged the case with Satkhira Sadar (town) police station on Monday night. The medical test of the victim was completed on Tuesday. Another allegation of conversion of religion after abducting the girl was also brought against them. It was learnt that Haidar Ali and tow of his associates abducted the minority girl Babita alias Usharani Haidar (15) of village Babulia under Sadar upazila of Satkhira district on March 13 last. Later the girl was taken to the court area where through Notary Public she was converted to Islam religion and given another name Aeysha Khatun and by another affidavit Haidar Ali got the girl married. As advocate Asraful Islam Siddiqui, advocate Sirajul Islam, advocate Rezauddola Bacchu and advocate Azharul Islam were involved in making the affidavit, so they were also made accused in the case along with the abductors Haidar, Emon and Ziarul. Under Women and Children Repression Prevention law allegation of abduction, rape and for assisting in these misdeeds were brought against them.

Eight persons injured in a terrorists' attack carried on Puja Mandop(pavilion) in Bajitpur Upazila of Kishoreganj district, five persons held (The Daily Prothom Alo, 27th March 07)
KISHOREGANJ, March 27: Terrorists carried an attack on the Puja Mandop of Noagaon Jele Palii (village) of the bank of the river Ghorautra under Bajitpur upazila of Kishoreganj district on Sunday night and destroyed the Puja festival. The terrorists at that time stole a finger of Kali temple and also vandalized a Mandop. About 8 persons including women were injured in the attack. Police arrested five persons in this connection.

Housewife gang raped in Keraniganj (The Daily Bangladesh Observer, 31st March 07):
KERANIGANJ, March 31: A housewife was gang raped at Bamonsur village here on Thursday midnight. Local sources said, the victim, aged about 22, along with her husband and brother-in-law went to the house of Khalek Dewan at Bamonsur village from Faridpur district at night to attend a religious program. But in the midst of the program, a group of miscreants picked up the housewife at gunpoint and took her to Panchdona High School ground. They later gang raped her.

A minority girl abducted from Kotalipara Upazila of Gopalganj district not rescued even after 17 days of her abduction (The Daily Amar Desh, 14th April 07): A minority school going student abducted in Sitakundu Upazila of Chittagong district, the abducted girl not traced even after three days of abduction (The Daily Ittefaq, 14th April 07). An Adibashi (aboriginal) handicapped child raped in Panchori of Khagrachori district (The Daily Prothom Alo, 01st April 07. Houses two Hindu minorities in Kaliakoir Upazila of Gazipur district grabbed (The Daily Jugantor, 01st April 07): A minority college going girl abducted in Faridpur district not rescued as yet even after 24 days of her abduction (The Daily Samokal, 04th April 07):

BANGLADESH HINDU BUDDHIST CHRISTIAN UNITY COUNCIL, USA
Website: www.bhbcuc-usa.org; <E-mail: bhbcuc_usa@yahoo.com>

Thanks..........
BHBCUC-USA
 
RELIGIOUS MINORITY PERSECUTION: GOING UNABATED IN BANGLADESH: A FEW RECENT EXAMPLES

An Adibashi (aboriginal) leader of Madupur Upazila of Tangail district dies in custody of law and order protecting agency: Source: The Daily Prothom Alo, 20th March 07: From Our Correspondent
TANGAIL, March 20: Cholesh Risil, an Adibashi leader died in custody of the law protecting agency in Madupur upazila of Tangail district. The family of Risil held law protecting agency and officials of the forest department responsible for the death of Risil. The Adibashi people gave a memorandum to the District Commissioner demanding punishment of the perpetrators involved. The family members of Risil told that Risil, his sister's husband Protap Simsang and bridegroom Tuhin Hadima and his father Piren Simsang were returning to Madhupur by a microbus after attending a marriage ceremony on Sunday afternoon. When the microbus reached near Kalibari bus stand of Muktagacha upazila, police at that time arrested them and took them to Kakrayed camp of Madupur upazila but later police released Tuhin and Piren in the evening keeping Risil and Protap in their custody. Rani Simsang, first wife of Risil told that members of law protecting agency left Protap in state of serious injury in his house at about 11 pm on Sunday night. He was admitted into Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. She also told that they got the news of death of Risil through Protap. Satjina Nokrek, second wife of Risil complained that after hearing the news of the arrest of Risil, she went to the camp of law protecting team but there she was threatened. Moazzem Hossain, Assistant Police Super and Riaz Hossain, OC of Madhupur police station denied the death of Risil after repression and also told Risil was an accused of about 30 cases filed by the forest department. Police claimed that when police went to arrest him, Risil tried to flee away and then after running away a little far distant, Risil fell on the road and lost his sense and then he was admitted into Madhupur Upazila Health Complex where he died at about 8:30 pm. The Adibashi people gathered on Tangail- Mymensingh high way yesterday morning after they heard about the death of Risil. A huge contingent of police was deployed there to keep the situation under control. A representative team of Adibashi at 11 am submitted a memorandum to the DC through Dr. A. M. Parvez, Madhupur Upazila Executive Officer for the dismissal of those members of law protecting agency involved in the death of Risil and they also demanded a fair justice to the death of Risil. UNO admitted receiving the memorandum and told that he would send it to the right place as soon as possible. The dead body of Risil was handed over at the church of Jolchatra in the afternoon. Later Adibashi with a silent procession took his dead body to Risil's village home Magantinagar. OC Riaz told that an unnatural death case was lodged in this connection. Risil was a strong organizer of the movement waged to protect the right of the Adibashi of Madhupr after the forest department took a decision to make Eco Park in the forest of Madhupur.

A minority fisherman killed in Bagerhat district (The Daily Sangbad, 02nd March 07):
BAGERHAT, March 2: A minority fisherman named Shet Sarkar(48) was killed in Jelepalli (fisherman village) of Dublachar of Sharankhola range of Bagerhat district of south Sundraban division on Tuesday night. Prince Sarkar, son of dead Shet Sarkar lodged a case in this connection with Sharankhola police station accusing 6 persons. Police and fishermen told that Shet Sarkar maintained his family by catching fish from Dublachar fisherman area. On the day of occurrence, Kamal Uddin, vice president of Fishermen Group and 6-7 more fish traders beat up Shet Sarkar and his accomplice Liton Biswas in allegation of stealing. Later Shet Sarkar died on the spot. Police recovered the dead body and sent it to Bagerhat sadar (town) hospital.

Terrorists carried attack in minority Palli (village) of Parbatipur of Dinajpur district, shallow machine looted and 20 injured (The Daily Ajker Kagoj, 18th March 07):
PARBATIPUR, March 18: About 20 persons including children and women were injured in an attack of the terrorists in Parbatipur of Dinajpur district on March 12 over the incident of giving and taking diesel for shallow machine. The injured persons were: Dipak (9), Kumad (45), Anukul (35), Ramanath (46), Koushala (55), Prema (20), Joyanta (15), Archana (32), Josna (30), Maya (28), Falguni (45) and Mahesh Dhamalu (40). The condition of five of them stated to be critical. When family members of Anukul protested the incident then perpetrators led by Mojibur and Tohubur giving slogan like "Finish off Hindus and send them to India" swooped on them. The perpetrators carried the attack in the area for about 4 hours. The perpetrators also looted shallow machine and other tools of irrigation of Anukul.

A minority adolescent girl was raped in Satkhira district. Case lodged against seven persons including lawyers (The Daily Janokontho, 21st march 07):
SATKHIRA, March 21: A case was lodged against seven persons including four members of Satkhira district Lawyers Association in allegation of assisting to abduct and rape a Hindu minority adolescent girl. Laxmirani, mother of the raped girl as a complainant lodged the case with Satkhira Sadar (town) police station on Monday night. The medical test of the victim was completed on Tuesday. Another allegation of conversion of religion after abducting the girl was also brought against them. It was learnt that Haidar Ali and tow of his associates abducted the minority girl Babita alias Usharani Haidar (15) of village Babulia under Sadar upazila of Satkhira district on March 13 last. Later the girl was taken to the court area where through Notary Public she was converted to Islam religion and given another name Aeysha Khatun and by another affidavit Haidar Ali got the girl married. As advocate Asraful Islam Siddiqui, advocate Sirajul Islam, advocate Rezauddola Bacchu and advocate Azharul Islam were involved in making the affidavit, so they were also made accused in the case along with the abductors Haidar, Emon and Ziarul. Under Women and Children Repression Prevention law allegation of abduction, rape and for assisting in these misdeeds were brought against them.

Eight persons injured in a terrorists' attack carried on Puja Mandop(pavilion) in Bajitpur Upazila of Kishoreganj district, five persons held (The Daily Prothom Alo, 27th March 07)
KISHOREGANJ, March 27: Terrorists carried an attack on the Puja Mandop of Noagaon Jele Palii (village) of the bank of the river Ghorautra under Bajitpur upazila of Kishoreganj district on Sunday night and destroyed the Puja festival. The terrorists at that time stole a finger of Kali temple and also vandalized a Mandop. About 8 persons including women were injured in the attack. Police arrested five persons in this connection.

Housewife gang raped in Keraniganj (The Daily Bangladesh Observer, 31st March 07):
KERANIGANJ, March 31: A housewife was gang raped at Bamonsur village here on Thursday midnight. Local sources said, the victim, aged about 22, along with her husband and brother-in-law went to the house of Khalek Dewan at Bamonsur village from Faridpur district at night to attend a religious program. But in the midst of the program, a group of miscreants picked up the housewife at gunpoint and took her to Panchdona High School ground. They later gang raped her.

A minority girl abducted from Kotalipara Upazila of Gopalganj district not rescued even after 17 days of her abduction (The Daily Amar Desh, 14th April 07): A minority school going student abducted in Sitakundu Upazila of Chittagong district, the abducted girl not traced even after three days of abduction (The Daily Ittefaq, 14th April 07). An Adibashi (aboriginal) handicapped child raped in Panchori of Khagrachori district (The Daily Prothom Alo, 01st April 07. Houses two Hindu minorities in Kaliakoir Upazila of Gazipur district grabbed (The Daily Jugantor, 01st April 07): A minority college going girl abducted in Faridpur district not rescued as yet even after 24 days of her abduction (The Daily Samokal, 04th April 07):

BANGLADESH HINDU BUDDHIST CHRISTIAN UNITY COUNCIL, USA
Website: www.bhbcuc-usa.org; <E-mail: bhbcuc_usa@yahoo.com>

Thanks..........
BHBCUC-USA
 
RELIGIOUS MINORITY PERSECUTION: GOING UNABATED IN BANGLADESH: A FEW RECENT EXAMPLES

An Adibashi (aboriginal) leader of Madupur Upazila of Tangail district dies in custody of law and order protecting agency: Source: The Daily Prothom Alo, 20th March 07: From Our Correspondent
TANGAIL, March 20: Cholesh Risil, an Adibashi leader died in custody of the law protecting agency in Madupur upazila of Tangail district. The family of Risil held law protecting agency and officials of the forest department responsible for the death of Risil. The Adibashi people gave a memorandum to the District Commissioner demanding punishment of the perpetrators involved. The family members of Risil told that Risil, his sister's husband Protap Simsang and bridegroom Tuhin Hadima and his father Piren Simsang were returning to Madhupur by a microbus after attending a marriage ceremony on Sunday afternoon. When the microbus reached near Kalibari bus stand of Muktagacha upazila, police at that time arrested them and took them to Kakrayed camp of Madupur upazila but later police released Tuhin and Piren in the evening keeping Risil and Protap in their custody. Rani Simsang, first wife of Risil told that members of law protecting agency left Protap in state of serious injury in his house at about 11 pm on Sunday night. He was admitted into Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. She also told that they got the news of death of Risil through Protap. Satjina Nokrek, second wife of Risil complained that after hearing the news of the arrest of Risil, she went to the camp of law protecting team but there she was threatened. Moazzem Hossain, Assistant Police Super and Riaz Hossain, OC of Madhupur police station denied the death of Risil after repression and also told Risil was an accused of about 30 cases filed by the forest department. Police claimed that when police went to arrest him, Risil tried to flee away and then after running away a little far distant, Risil fell on the road and lost his sense and then he was admitted into Madhupur Upazila Health Complex where he died at about 8:30 pm. The Adibashi people gathered on Tangail- Mymensingh high way yesterday morning after they heard about the death of Risil. A huge contingent of police was deployed there to keep the situation under control. A representative team of Adibashi at 11 am submitted a memorandum to the DC through Dr. A. M. Parvez, Madhupur Upazila Executive Officer for the dismissal of those members of law protecting agency involved in the death of Risil and they also demanded a fair justice to the death of Risil. UNO admitted receiving the memorandum and told that he would send it to the right place as soon as possible. The dead body of Risil was handed over at the church of Jolchatra in the afternoon. Later Adibashi with a silent procession took his dead body to Risil's village home Magantinagar. OC Riaz told that an unnatural death case was lodged in this connection. Risil was a strong organizer of the movement waged to protect the right of the Adibashi of Madhupr after the forest department took a decision to make Eco Park in the forest of Madhupur.

A minority fisherman killed in Bagerhat district (The Daily Sangbad, 02nd March 07):
BAGERHAT, March 2: A minority fisherman named Shet Sarkar(48) was killed in Jelepalli (fisherman village) of Dublachar of Sharankhola range of Bagerhat district of south Sundraban division on Tuesday night. Prince Sarkar, son of dead Shet Sarkar lodged a case in this connection with Sharankhola police station accusing 6 persons. Police and fishermen told that Shet Sarkar maintained his family by catching fish from Dublachar fisherman area. On the day of occurrence, Kamal Uddin, vice president of Fishermen Group and 6-7 more fish traders beat up Shet Sarkar and his accomplice Liton Biswas in allegation of stealing. Later Shet Sarkar died on the spot. Police recovered the dead body and sent it to Bagerhat sadar (town) hospital.

Terrorists carried attack in minority Palli (village) of Parbatipur of Dinajpur district, shallow machine looted and 20 injured (The Daily Ajker Kagoj, 18th March 07):
PARBATIPUR, March 18: About 20 persons including children and women were injured in an attack of the terrorists in Parbatipur of Dinajpur district on March 12 over the incident of giving and taking diesel for shallow machine. The injured persons were: Dipak (9), Kumad (45), Anukul (35), Ramanath (46), Koushala (55), Prema (20), Joyanta (15), Archana (32), Josna (30), Maya (28), Falguni (45) and Mahesh Dhamalu (40). The condition of five of them stated to be critical. When family members of Anukul protested the incident then perpetrators led by Mojibur and Tohubur giving slogan like "Finish off Hindus and send them to India" swooped on them. The perpetrators carried the attack in the area for about 4 hours. The perpetrators also looted shallow machine and other tools of irrigation of Anukul.

A minority adolescent girl was raped in Satkhira district. Case lodged against seven persons including lawyers (The Daily Janokontho, 21st march 07):
SATKHIRA, March 21: A case was lodged against seven persons including four members of Satkhira district Lawyers Association in allegation of assisting to abduct and rape a Hindu minority adolescent girl. Laxmirani, mother of the raped girl as a complainant lodged the case with Satkhira Sadar (town) police station on Monday night. The medical test of the victim was completed on Tuesday. Another allegation of conversion of religion after abducting the girl was also brought against them. It was learnt that Haidar Ali and tow of his associates abducted the minority girl Babita alias Usharani Haidar (15) of village Babulia under Sadar upazila of Satkhira district on March 13 last. Later the girl was taken to the court area where through Notary Public she was converted to Islam religion and given another name Aeysha Khatun and by another affidavit Haidar Ali got the girl married. As advocate Asraful Islam Siddiqui, advocate Sirajul Islam, advocate Rezauddola Bacchu and advocate Azharul Islam were involved in making the affidavit, so they were also made accused in the case along with the abductors Haidar, Emon and Ziarul. Under Women and Children Repression Prevention law allegation of abduction, rape and for assisting in these misdeeds were brought against them.

Eight persons injured in a terrorists' attack carried on Puja Mandop(pavilion) in Bajitpur Upazila of Kishoreganj district, five persons held (The Daily Prothom Alo, 27th March 07)
KISHOREGANJ, March 27: Terrorists carried an attack on the Puja Mandop of Noagaon Jele Palii (village) of the bank of the river Ghorautra under Bajitpur upazila of Kishoreganj district on Sunday night and destroyed the Puja festival. The terrorists at that time stole a finger of Kali temple and also vandalized a Mandop. About 8 persons including women were injured in the attack. Police arrested five persons in this connection.

Housewife gang raped in Keraniganj (The Daily Bangladesh Observer, 31st March 07):
KERANIGANJ, March 31: A housewife was gang raped at Bamonsur village here on Thursday midnight. Local sources said, the victim, aged about 22, along with her husband and brother-in-law went to the house of Khalek Dewan at Bamonsur village from Faridpur district at night to attend a religious program. But in the midst of the program, a group of miscreants picked up the housewife at gunpoint and took her to Panchdona High School ground. They later gang raped her.

A minority girl abducted from Kotalipara Upazila of Gopalganj district not rescued even after 17 days of her abduction (The Daily Amar Desh, 14th April 07): A minority school going student abducted in Sitakundu Upazila of Chittagong district, the abducted girl not traced even after three days of abduction (The Daily Ittefaq, 14th April 07). An Adibashi (aboriginal) handicapped child raped in Panchori of Khagrachori district (The Daily Prothom Alo, 01st April 07. Houses two Hindu minorities in Kaliakoir Upazila of Gazipur district grabbed (The Daily Jugantor, 01st April 07): A minority college going girl abducted in Faridpur district not rescued as yet even after 24 days of her abduction (The Daily Samokal, 04th April 07):

BANGLADESH HINDU BUDDHIST CHRISTIAN UNITY COUNCIL, USA
Website: www.bhbcuc-usa.org; <E-mail: bhbcuc_usa@yahoo.com>

Thanks..........