New Delhi: The Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), a New Delhi-based think tank, has called for urgent international intervention following the burning of 17 Christian Tripuri houses in Bangladesh.
The attack occurred at Notun Tongjhiri Tripura Para, Sarai Union of Lama Upazila, Bandarban district, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, during the early hours of Christmas Day.
The incident took place when residents were attending Christmas celebrations in a neighbouring village due to the lack of a church in their locality.
Suspicions point to Islamic fundamentalist elements, though no perpetrators have yet been identified.
Victims have been left homeless, living under the open sky, as their homes were destroyed in the fire.
Despite a formal complaint being lodged, no arrests have been made so far.
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Local police, led by Md Enamul Haque Bhuiyan, Inspector of Lama Police Station, reportedly shifted the blame to political disputes, reflecting ongoing tensions in the aftermath of the Awami League regime’s ouster.
Suhas Chakma, Director of the RRAG, criticised the Interim Government of Bangladesh for failing to protect religious minorities.
“It has become common for the government to attribute attacks on minorities to their alleged allegiance with the Awami League. This perception, promoted by Chief Advisor Dr. Mohammed Yunus, has emboldened Islamic fundamentalists,” Chakma said.
He highlighted statements from government officials, including one from the Chief Adviser in September 2024, linking violence against minorities to political affiliations without investigations.
Chakma further pointed out the disparity between recorded incidents and official action.
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From August 4 to 20, 2024, the Bangladesh-Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad documented over 2,000 incidents of violence against minorities.
Yet, as per Shafiqul Alam, the Chief Adviser’s press secretary, only 88 cases were filed between August 5 and October 22.
“This culture of impunity has allowed violence against minorities to persist unchecked,” Chakma added.
The RRAG has urged the US Committee on International Religious Freedom and the European Union to intervene with the Bangladeshi government.
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They recommend enacting a Special Ordinance to address minority attacks, creating a special investigation unit with assistance from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and establishing Fast Track Courts to ensure swift justice.
“The international community must act decisively to ensure justice and protection for these vulnerable groups,” Chakma concluded.
