In 30th October, 1990 when President Ershad was addressing a youth conference at “Bangha Bhavan” reiterating that as long as he lives there will be no violence against minorities – exactly then Islamic fundamentalists attacked Hindu shops along with “Gouri Math” temple just south of the “Bangha Bhavan”. All the belongings of Hindu minorities were burning to ashes barely a mile away from Ershad’s conference. The atrocities happen in front of police and local administration but there was no effort from law enforcing agencies to prevent the violence.
The violence of 1989 and 1990 against minorities cannot be
termed as riots it was one sided similar to 1964. In these atrocities the then
ruling party was involved.
While some termed the atrocities of 1989 and 1990 as state sponsored, atrocities
of 1992 although similar never been termed as such. During 1992, Jamat-I-Islami,
a coalition partner of then ruling party BNP was directly involved in the
atrocities against minorities, rather some termed this as the spontaneous
protest for the demolition of “Babri Mosque” in India.
In 1992, more than a thousand women being gang raped, hundreds of temple
demolished, houses of Hindu minorities were set ablaze and earthly possessions
of minorities were looted. Those atrocities were preplanned and the proof of
states involvement. It is the duty of the state to protect its citizen yet state
has never tried to protect minorities during those atrocities although some
incidents happen barely a quarter of a mile away from Police stations around the
country. Some suggest that Jamat-I-Islami was planning the attack on minorities
for a while which was known to the then government in 1992.
At the night of 6th December, Jamat initiate its rain of
terror in Chittagong. They went on rampage at Chittagong destroying temples,
looting shops and houses and setting ablaze the domicile of Hindu minorities. At
least three children were burned alive in Kutubdia. Latter the violence spread
in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Table 1
A very conservative estimate of property loss (in millions Taka)
Division |
Domicile |
Business |
Temples and Religious foundations |
Barishal |
500 |
20 |
150 |
Chittagong |
200 |
80 |
150 |
Dhaka |
100 |
20 |
100 |
Khulna |
10 |
10 |
60 |
Rajshahi |
10 |
10 |
60 |
Total |
820 |
140 |
520 |
Hindu, Buddha, Christian Unity Council (HBCUC) has visited various districts and prepared a list of property damages, gang rapes, arsons and loots after 6th December 1992. According to the report of HBCUC more than 28000 domiciles, 3500 temples/religious foundations and 2500 commercial establishments were either damaged or completely destroyed. At least 15 people were slaughtered and hundreds of others wounded and 2400 women were gang raped. Minorities alleged that government neither protected minorities nor made initiative to apprehend the Islamic fundamentalists. It was observed that police and some elements of then ruling party were involved in the violence. Initial report suggests total loss minority property worth 1480 millions Taka (see table one).
October 31, 1990: A trail of destruction at the "Shakhari Bazar"
barely couple of feet away from the local police station where Islamic
fundamentalists went on rampage destroying shops, domiciles and commercial
establishments of country's minority community.
It
is to be noted that when Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid (secretary of then all party
alliance) was questioned about the HBCUC report, he agreed that the report was
conservative estimate and actual number may increase. Mr. Nahid also stated that
minorities of Sylhet district perhaps never experienced such brutal atrocities
in past, atrocities of 1992 have made a permanent scar in the heart of
minorities there.
The Member of Parliament elected from Bhola Mr. Thofael Ahmed also agreed
with the report prepared by HBCUC. He asserted that perhaps crimes against women
and children were far more brutal than that described in the report.
According to leader of Awami League Mr. Shudangshu Shekhar Halder a
total of 3600 temples and 28000 domiciles were completely destroyed in 6th
December. The total cost of damage is more than 2000 millions Taka.
Some asserted that the atrocities of 1992 was far more brutal that that of 1950.
During the atrocities of 1992 and 1990 minority women and children have become
the victims of brutal crimes. In those atrocities women were not only gang raped
brutally, they were forced to walk naked in the streets. Rape victims also
include minors starting with age 5. In some villages, no women aged 5 to age 70
escaped the merciless attack of vicious Islamic fundamentalists. Years of
oppressions and state sponsored discriminations have ended the minorities so
fearful and vulnerable that the vicious Islamic fundamentalists never have to
face any resistance during their medieval rampage against minorities.
Table 2.
A conservative estimate of devastations in five major divisions of Bangladesh.
Division |
Domiciles |
Commercial Establishments |
Temples and Religious establishments |
No. of gang raped women |
No. of wounded (later died) people |
Barishal |
13,000 |
500 |
1500 |
2000 |
200 |
Chittagong |
9,000 |
1000 |
700 |
100 |
200 |
Dhaka |
5000 |
500 |
600 |
200 |
200 |
Rajshahi |
500 |
300 |
300 |
50 |
50 |
Khulna |
500 |
200 |
400 |
50 |
50 |
Total |
28000 |
2500 |
3500 |
2400 |
700 |