DHAKA: A rights group in Bangladesh accused the government on Thursday (July 10) of overlooking more than 2,000 crimes committed against religious minorities in the country and excluding them from reforms.
The Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council has been voicing concern over targeted attacks on religious minorities since the fall of ousted former premier Sheikh Hasina last year.
"We have recorded 2,442 incidents from August 4 last year to June 30 this year, involving murders, rapes and gang rapes, vandalism of temples, homes, and businesses," Monindra Kumar Nath, general secretary of the council, told a news conference.
The council alleged such attacks have continued even after the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus took charge of the Muslim-majority country of 170 million people.
His administration has often dismissed the accusations, saying the crimes against minorities are politically motivated, the victims believed to have supported Hasina's Awami League party in the past.
"Instead of giving due attention to our concerns, the government chose to label them as false, fabricated, and exaggerated," Nath said, alleging the accused were "enjoying impunity".
The unity council criticised the government for excluding religious minorities from any of the reform commissions tasked with proposing measures to end all forms of discrimination in the society.
"Though at least 10 percent of the total population belongs to minority groups, the government has neither formed a separate commission for religious minorities nor included a representative from the community in any of the commissions," Nath said.
Kajal Debnath, a council member, said minorities have been under pressure since the country's independence in 1971.
"The first attack during Durga Puja (the largest Hindu festival) occurred in 1972. But this time, we hoped for better since we have a Nobel Peace Prize winner at the helm," Kajal said.
Yunus' press office has admitted to 88 incidents of violence against minorites and arrested 70 people in connection with the attackss.
The council, however, says no progress has been made in prosecuting the alleged perpetrators. - AFP
