Incidents against Minorities
Members of the minority communities face many forms of persecution from Islamic extremists in Bangladesh. Here we present a collection of the most recent incidents highlighting this awful persecution. The following incidents have been collected by local reporters in Bangladesh.

January 2004

I. January 2, 2004. Ruigari village, Lalpur police station, Natore district (in western Bangladesh very close to the Indian state of West Bengal). Uttam Sarkar, a youth member of the minority Hindu community, was kidnapped by a group of armed Islamic zealots. He was released after being tortured and paying 3000 Taka (US $50) in extortion money.

II. January 10, 2004. Nutun Bazar municipal area, Chatmohan upazela, Pabna district (in western Bangladesh, relatively close to the Indian state of West Bengal). Durga Rani Kundu (the wife of wealthy member of the minority Hindu community, Krishna Chndra Kundu) was murdered by Islamic fundamentalists by strangulation. ASP Circle Md. Mamirul Islam has visited the spot and a criminal case has been filed in the Chatmohan Police Staion.

III. January 10, 2004. Haglapasha village, Morelgunj Upazela, Bagerhat district (in southern Bangladesh bordering the Bay of Bengal). Islamic fundamentalists raided the homes of Susil Ranjan Mistri, a member of the local minority Hindu. The gang looted an estimated 50,000 Taka (US $850) of jewelry and property.

IV. Jan 12, 2004. Panchbibi upzela, Jaipurhat district (in northwestern Bangladesh bordering the Indian state of West Bengal). The members of the Bangladesh Rifles recovered two Hindu religious icons, one of Radha Krishna and another of a Shivlinga from two houses in the Kakrai and Uchai villages.

V. January 15, 2004. Sobalong Bazar, Barkal Upazela, Rangamati district (part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts bordering the Indian states of Tripura and Mizoram). Biro Chakma, a leader of the local Buddhist community was shot and seriously wounded by a group of Islamic fundamentalists.

VI. January 15, 2004. Ward number 3, Charfashion Municipality Area, Bhola district (in southern Bangladesh bordering the Bay of Bengal). Krishna Karmakar, a member of the local minority Hindu community, was attacked by a group estimated to be from thirty to thirty-five people. The group was led by a prominent Islamic fundamentalist Mohammed Rasul who incidentally was a neighbor of Karmarker. The group attacked and destroyed his home. Additionally, Tarubala Karmakar (age 65) and Minara Rani Karmakar (age 60) suffered serious injuries during the assault and are currently undergoing treatment at Charfashion hospital.

VII. January 18, 2004. Khilgaon village, Sadar Thana, Madhabdi area, Narshinghdi district (due east of the capital of Dhaka). While Satish Sarkar, a member of the local minority Hindu community, was performing Kali puja in his home, it was attacked by local Islamic fundamentalists. Osman Mia, Kayum Mia and Anwar Mia attacked the house and destroyed the icon of the Hindu Goddess Kali. When Sarkar’s son Swapan and his wife Sefali resisted, they were savagely beaten and suffered serious injuries.

VIII. January 18, 2004. Hosef Market, Malibag thana area, Dhaka (capital city of Bangladesh). Sujan Ghosh (age 28) suffered acid related injuries after Islamic fundamentalists threw acid on him.

IX. January 18, 2004. Shantipara, Darshana Upazela, Chuadauga district. Armed Islamic fundamentalists attacked the home of Mantu Ghosh, a member of the local minority Hindu community. The gang stole 20,000 Taka (US $340) in cash, along with gold and other valuables valued in the hundreds of thousands of Taka. On their way from the house, they shot and seriously wounded Sarswati Ghosh (age 30).

X. January 18, 2004. South Kumkhali village, Paigacha upazela, Khulna district (in southwestern Bangladesh, very close to the Indian state of West Bengal). Armed Islamic fundamentalists brutally killed Dinesh Baidya (age 48), a local village doctor and a prominent member of the local minority Hindu community.

XI. January 19, 2004. Itali village, Singra upazela, Natore district (in western Bangladesh very close to the Indian state of West Bengal). Armed Islamic fundamentalists set fire to the home of a local Hindu leader, Ranjan Kumar Maitra. It is estimated that 300,000 Taka (US $5,100) worth of property was destroyed.

XII. January 26, 2004. Korh village, Narail zela's sadar thana (in southwestern Bangladesh). Armed Islamic extremists attacked and plundered the home of Bidyut Mullick and Kanai Mullick.

XIII. January 26, 2004. Basana village, Dhamrai Thana, Dhaka district (capital city of Bangladesh). Armed Islamic fundamentalists carrying attacked the home of Tapan Chandra Ghosh, a member of the local minority Hindu community. They looted valuables in excess of 200,000 Taka (US $3400).

XIV. January 27, 2004. Sarkar Para Lane situated behind Khulna Metropolitan Sadar Department, Khulna district (in southwestern Bangladesh, very close to the Indian state of West Bengal). Armed Islamic fundamentalists attacked the home of a local Hindu journalist, Jotirmoy Mullick. During the assault, they looted wealth in excess of 100,000 Taka (approximately US $1700).

Undated Incidents:

Konarhat bazaar, Rajbari Thana, Faridpur district (Due west of the capital city of Dhaka). Armed Islamic fundamentalists recently raided two jewelry shops. They looted 60 tolas in gold, 200 tolas in silver, and 108,000 Taka (approximately US $1840) in cash. Later in the day, they attacked the home of Nripen of Jaipurhat village and looted more valuables.

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Copyright © 2004, Nikhil Banga Nagarik Sangha