Jamaat, BNP involved in Panchagarh violence: Home minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday held Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP responsible for anti-Ahmadiyya violence in Panchagarh that left two people dead and dozens injured.
Local Jamaat activists and BNP leaders were involved in obstructing the Ahmadiyyas from holding their religious event and torched their houses, the home minister told reporters at his Secretariat office.
He said several thousand Ahmadiyyas live in the area and their Salna Jalsa has been an annual event there.
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"But this year, the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP leaders obstructed them. They also carried out arson attacks on their houses and raided the venue," he added.
He said the clashes claimed a member of the Ahmadiyya community, while an activist of Jamaat-e-Islami died during the violence, he said.
Earlier, reports said the violence on Friday left two people killed and at least 30 injured.
Cases have already been filed in this connection and 81 people have been arrested so far and BNP leader Fazle Rabbi was among the arrestees, said the minister.
Following interrogation, Fazle Rabbi admitted that he was there to stop the religious event and he also led the protest from behind, said Asaduzzaman.
The situation in the area is normal now and more cases are under way, he added.
Asked about any advance information from an intelligence source about the Panchagarh incident, the minister said, "Efforts are on to investigate why the members of the community got so angry this year? Whether there was any negligence on part of the law enforcers will be found out. A probe committee has been formed and action will be taken if we find any negligence."
About the BNP's allegation that the government has caused the incident to repress the party, the minister said, "Awami League never goes against the people of the country. It is in charge of providing security to the people – why would they do such an incident? Those who were behind the incident are spreading rumours to hide themselves."
