After taking a passive stand on the numerous attacks on the Hindu minority and its religious establishments during the July-August violent students protests across Bangladesh, the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government has sought to create a list of all joint secretaries and other officers holding equal rank.
An August 29 order issued by the Textile and Jute Ministry directed all other ministries and departments to prepare a list of all Dhaka-based Hindu joint secretaries and officers holdings equal rank.
The list, the directive stated, must be shared as soft and hard copies and sent as email attachments to the Administration-1 section of the Textile and Jute Ministry by September 2.
The directive was signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Jahangir Alam.
While Hindus were targeted in attacks and pogroms by alleged Islami Chhatra Shibir supporters during the course of the violent students’ movement, instances of gang-rape of women belonging to the minority community were also reported. There were, however, no reports of arrests of the culprits.
Within days of assuming office, the Yunus-led interim authority took to releasing some dreaded terrorists such as Ansarullah Bangla Team head Mohammad Jashimuddin Rahamani.
Rahmani, who was lodged in the high-security Kashimpur prison near Dhaka was released on August 26.
Since his release, Rahamani has been holding private gatherings in and around Dhaka, calling for the demolition of idols and the creation of “one God” (tauhid), which is a reference to the establishment of Islam. He has also called for the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam and appropriation of their property.
While Rahamani had previously plotted terror strikes against India, his release from prison did not draw any reaction from the United States which in the past would rile against the extent of Islamic terrorism around the globe.
A week after Rahamani was set free, the Yunus-led interim government released Sheikh Aslam, alias Sweden Aslam from the Kashimpur prison. Aslam was wanted in no fewer than 12 cases, including murder and possession of weapons.
Aslam was among top 23 terrorists who operated in Bangladesh during the tenure of the BNP government between 2001-2006.
Arrested on January 31, 2005, he was charged and convicted in several cases. After serving time in several prisons, Aslam was finally lodged at the Kashmpur prison in 2014.
While Rahamani was released on the basis of an executive order which most likely emanated from the Law Ministry, Aslam was discharged on bail.
Following the students-led country-wide upheaval and the ensuing violence, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Council (BHBCC) had appealed to Yunus stop communal hatred and violence.
A BHBCC spokesperson told Northeast News that the recorded cases of communal violence against Hindus during the course of the students’ movement stood at 278.
