Recent Atrocities Against Minorities in Bangladesh

Report from Bangladesh on December 12, 2001

A special report of HRCBM Relief Worker from Ground Zero, as it happening.

In continuation of our previous report on torture and persecution on
religious minorities in Bangladesh we are to inform you as under :-

Brahmanbaria District
On 3rd Nov,01 one school teacher Shri Haradhan Master of Bancharampur
police station within Bisnupur village is reported to have been threatened by some terrorists to pay an amount of Taka 50,000/-, otherwise
his only daughter would be taken away for rape. Haradhan Master reported
that while the terrorists came to his house he was not present in the house,but the terrorists told to his wife that an amount of Tk.,50,000/- should be paid to them, failure to pay such illegal amount the members of this family should leave the country within 8 P.M. Accordingly terrorists came second time in the house of Haradhan at 8 P.M. and started to beat the wife of Master Haradhan and his son. Only to save herself and his son
she gave some wearing golden ornaments to the terrorists and took shelter
in a neighboring Muslim family where she was not escaped from the clutches of the terrorists and the terrorists put her in a room and kept the room under lock and key. On hearing the news of persecution Haradhan Master came to the spot and managed to open the room and recovered his wife. In the meantime the house of Haradhan Master have been ransacked and all the belongings have been looted by the terrorists. Haradhan Master tried to
lodge a complain in the police station but no case was registered by the
local police. Finding no other alternative he reported the incident to the local Member of parliament, but it is of no effect.Haradhan Master
is still no in a position to go to his school due to fear of life. He
appeared in the Office of "Janakantha" and narrated the story.

Chittagong District

On 10th of December,01 some terrorists at Rangunia police station in
Dovashi Bazar looted a Jewllery shop belonging to Shri Kartic Dey , some terrorists took away huge golden ornaments and some cash and also has beaten Kartic Dey mercilessly and warned them to leave the country. The
names of the terrorists have been known as 1) Bachaiya, 2) Taher and his
group.

Rangpur District

On 10th of December,01 some unknown criminals, at Badarganj police station
entered into Kali Mandir and started to demolish "Shitala Devi" " Mahadev" and images of "Dhakini Jogini" at night. It has been reported by our men that a total damage would be Bangladesh currency Tk.12,00,000/-(twelve lacs).