23 killed in 174 communal violence in 4 months: Oikya Parishad

Twenty-three people were killed in 174 incidents of violence on religious and ethnic minority groups in different parts of the country over the last 4 months and 11 days.

During the period, nine women became the victims of torture and rape.

Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad leaders stated it while placing a report at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Thursday (January 30) morning. 

The report was prepared on the basis of the news reports published in different national dailies from August 21 to December 31, 2024.

The press conference was held under the title, "Against the Prevailing Communal Violence and Disparities."

 Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad's acting general secretary Manindra Kumar Nath read out a written statement at the press conference.

He said a total of 174 incidents of communal violence took place at different parts of the country, particularly at rural areas. Those incidents included such types of violence where several families were attacked and affected by the same incidents.

It was stated in the written statement that apart from murders, torture on women, rape, and gangrape, 64 incidents of attacking, vandalizing, looting and setting on fire took place at the places of worships. Fifteen incidents of arrest and torture had happened on charges of undermining religion; 38 incidents of attack on homesteads and business establishments, vandalism, looting and setting on fire took place, while 25 incidents of occupying homesteads, lands and business establishments during the period. 

The Oikya Parishad leaders said they think that the description made in the report is the partial picture of overall incidents.

On September 19, the Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad said some 2,010 incidents of communal; violence took place across the country from August 4 to August 20 last year centering the political changeover in mass uprising. They collected information for the report from the nationwide branches of the Oikya Parishad. This time, the picture of communal violence from August 21 to December 31 last year was narrated.

The Oikya Parishad leaders also alleged that they could not collect information from the grassroots level this time, because their local leaders were given various threats and sued in false cases.

Besides, they are harassed implicating in false cases, the leaders said.