Thirty-seven citizens, including rights activists, teachers and lawyer on Wednesday in a joint statement condemned the attacks on religious and ethnic minorities and false news relating to such attacks.
They called for a proper investigation into the incidents and legal action against those responsible for the attacks after the student-led mass uprising that forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as prime minister and flee to India where she has now taken shelter.
鈥業n recent days, numerous incidents of attacks, looting and arson on the homes, businesses, and temples of minority communities, particularly Hindu citizens, have been reported from different parts of the country,鈥� said the statement.
鈥榃e received information that in some areas, miscreants attacked the homes of ethnic people, and in two districts, homes and places of worship of the minority Ahmadiyya community were vandalised and set on fire,鈥� read the statement.
It said that all the attacks, looting and arson incidents were not motivated by religious reasons or the desire to seize property, rather, they appeared to be driven by political grievances and revenges in many cases.
The statement welcomed the students and common people who came forward to protect temples, churches and the homes of minorities and to prevent attacks.
鈥榃e have noticed that some groups are spreading exaggerated news, false information and rumours relating to the attacks on minority to mislead the people,鈥� said the statement.
Referring to a visit of advocate Pijush Kanti Sarkar鈥檚 office, reportedly set on fire by miscreants, in Mymensingh, the statement said that he was vice-president of district unit of Bangladesh Awami League.
鈥楢ccording to locals, the fire was set due to political dispute and anger,鈥� said the statement, condemning Indian media outlets for falsely reporting the incidents as sectarian violence.
The signatories to the statement were right activists Sultana Kamal, Khushi Kabir, professor Anu Muhammad, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman, social activist Rasheda K Chowdhury, Naripokkho member Shireen Huq, lawyers Subrata Chowdhury, ZI Khan Panna and journalism professor Gitiara Nasreen, among others.
