Right group urges Bangladesh NHRC to probe into attacks on minority Hindus, Christians after Hasina’s ouster

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 18, 2024

New Delhi-based think tank, Rights and Risk Analysis Groups (RRAG) filed a formal complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh on Wednesday, seeking an investigation into a series of violent attacks against minority communities.

These incidents occurred between August 5 and August 20, following the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. The complaint was based on a report by The Prothom Alo, which documented the extent of the violence.

According to the report, at least 1,090 attacks were recorded, which included the damage of 1,068 houses and business establishments, along with 22 places of worship belonging to minority groups. Additionally, the violence led to the murders of two individuals from these communities.

Prothom Alo reported that the majority of the attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh took place in the southwestern division of Khulna, where at least 295 homes and businesses were destroyed. Other affected regions included Rangpur with 219 properties damaged, Mymensingh with 183, Rajshahi with 155, Dhaka with 79, Barishal with 68, Chattogram with 45, and Sylhet with 25. The scale of destruction varied, with some buildings facing extensive damage while others experienced less severe impacts.

The report also highlighted violations of the right to life. Two minority Hindus were murdered in separate incidents: Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee, a retired schoolteacher, was brutally beaten and hacked to death on August 5 in the village of Chhoto Paikpara in Bagerhat Sadar, where his wife and daughter were also injured. On August 8, Swapan Kumar Biswas was tortured and killed while on his way home in Paikgachha, Khulna.

In addition to the violence against Hindu minorities, Prothom Alo reported that other minority groups such as Christians, Ahmadiyyas, and ethnic minorities were also targeted in the post-government-change attacks in Bangladesh. Several Christian establishments were attacked, including the Church of Bangladesh in Naogaon, the Evangelica Holiness Church in Dinajpur, and the Christian Cooperative Credit Union booth in Madanpur, Narayanganj. Christian homes in Barishal, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Parbatipur were also damaged, and a statue of Mother Mary was vandalized at the Nijpara Mission in Thakurgaon. Threats were made against various missionary schools and colleges, further heightening the sense of fear among these communities.

RRAG Director Suhas Chakma emphasized the gravity of these human rights violations, calling for the registration of a formal complaint under Section 12(a) of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act of 2009 of Bangladesh. Chakma urged the NHRC to investigate these incidents under Section 14 of the Act, to establish accountability, provide reparations to victims, and ensure that such violence does not occur again.

The RRAG urged the NHRC of Bangladesh to register a formal complaint and issue directives by Section 14 of the National Human Rights Commission Act of 2009. The RRAG recommended that the NHRC initiate the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) for each case related to the attacks on minorities, conduct trials with provisions for witness protection, and assess the damages suffered by individuals from minority communities.

The RRAG also urged the NHRC to recommend compensation, including 10 lakh Taka for the families of those murdered, such as Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee and Swapan Kumar Biswas. Additionally, the RRAG suggested that the NHRC consider seeking technical cooperation from the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) or other regional NHRIs to strengthen the investigation process and ensure accountability for these grave human rights violations.