AL behind’ communal violence, alleges BNP

BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Monday alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists were behind’ communal violence.

Dhaka, Oct 25 :  BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Monday alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists were directly involved in the recent communal violence as part of a ‘blueprint of the government’.

“We visited some temples that came under attack and talked to eyewitnesses and other people concerned. The direct involvement of the leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League in these attacks can be found through a proper investigation,” he said.

Gayeshwar, the chief of the committee formed by BNP to look into the sectarian violence, came up with the remarks at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office. The committee earlier inspected some violence-hit areas.

He alleged that the government has not taken any step to bring the attackers under trial and punish them.

“An initiative has been taken to pick up or arrest and harass BNP leaders and activists by implicating them in false cases and thus hiding the attackers as part of a blueprint. Undoubtedly, it can be said the government has created an issue in a planned way to harass the leaders of the opposition political parties,” Gayeshwar said.

He said though intelligence agencies and police have ideas about the attackers, innocent and peace-loving people have been made accused in the cases filed over communal violence.

"We won’t say only the Hindus have been affected through these attacks (on temples and puja mandaps) as we think the entire nation has been attacked. We must make a concerted effort to resist these attackers,” the BNP leader observed.

He urged the media to take a stance against the real perpetrators and be vocal to ensure justice.

Erlier on October 17, BNP formed two committees for, what it said, standing beside the victims of recent communal attacks and investigating the incidents to find out the facts.

One of the committees was formed headed by BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy to visit the violence-affected temples and puja mandaps in different areas of the country.

On October 23, the Gayeshwar-led committee visited three temples in Cumilla and Chandpur and talked to victims, including priests and eyewitnesses.

Gayeshwar said, "Chandmani Raksha Kali temple in Cumilla was attacked thrice in one day on October 13.

He said police had also come to the spot thrice after the attackers and left the spot.

The BNP leader said even a temple came under attack in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s electoral area in Gopalganj. “From this, it can be assumed that the government is making a despicable attempt to divert public attention through a large-scale communal riot and thus prolong its autocratic power.”

He called upon people of all strata, irrespective of religion, to get united and raise their voice against communal violence in a bid to uphold the non-communal culture of Bangladesh, reports UNB.