Author:
Publication: HRCBM (The Human Rights
Congress for Bangladesh Minorities)
Date: May 8, 2004
URL: http://www.hrcbm.org/NEWLOOK/kalia-05-08-04.html
Over One Hundred Homes Broken Into,
Ravaged And Looted
Report: Daily Janakantha dated 05/08/04.
Kalia in the district of Norail,
Bangladesh is burning from the vengeful terror attacks of 'Alliance" party
cadres and their supporters. These terrorists stuck at a minimum of four
small villages where minorities live. All night long on Thursday, they
attacked and ravaged more than one hundred homes. They robbed the villagers
of their possessions. Terrified families deserted their homes and took
shelter in the forest or in other villages that so far escaped these terror
attacks. Since Friday morning the terror struck men, women and children
have been running away from this area. Many homes are left behind bolt
locked from outside. The villagers who are still there are frightened of
their life- they fear new attacks. There reigns an atmosphere of deathly
quiet and none of the traders has opened for business. Tragically, in the
aftermath Mrs Buri Ghosh, who was pregnant, died for want of medical attention.
Ramapged villages reveal an atmosphere
of "all hell broke loose" to any reporters arriving there. The terrorists
picked on villages with largely Hindu population namely, Madhavpasa, Kaligonj,
Charkhali, Jaipur, Laxmipur, Chalna, Chhoto Kalia, SitaRampur, Mirjapur,
Chanpur. All the inhabitants on the village of Mirjapur are followers of
Hindu faith. And every house in that village was targeted. The terrorists
used Machetes and other weapons to rampage these homes. Metallic rooftops,
and the drainage system were deliberately damaged. And then they looted
all the cash and other valuables inside those homes. Even the chicken sheds
were emptied. The villagers left their homes with only what they were wearing
at the time.
Journalists from both Khulna and
Norail who set out on Friday to travel to ground zero (Kaliachar) were
palpably scared. Alliance cadres placed themselves at every cross section
of roads on the route to Kaliachar. They were asked about where they were
coming from and about their destination. All new visitors were being watched.
No matter which road one takes, one has no choice but to return on the
same route. As a result these perpetrators could carry on with their crimes
without being bothered. Each and every reporter disguised his profession,
and roamed around the locality. Eyewitness accounts noted that the incidents
started between 8 pm and 8.30 pm on Thursday. Between 200 and 300 armed
cadres assembled at the local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) office
and then came out all together and begun to unleash their terror attacks.
The reign of terror continued all night long until dawn on Friday. They
shot at Shivpada Roy in Chhoto Kalia village. Also, they demanded a 100,000
Rupee donation (i.e. in lieu of infidel protection tax) from Nishi Kanta,
a local businessman. The terrorists formed into small groups in order to
target individual homes. on which they unleashed their attacks. The inhabitants
of those homes made immediate choice to protect their life and sprinted
out of their residences. Some of the names of both Hindu and Muslim owners
of the rampaged homes are Tapas Biswas, Asim Pal, Gobinda Pal, Jiten Pal,
Jaharul Haq, Ashraff Mullah, Afzal Mullah, Nitai Biswas, Anil Biswas (of
Beshna?? village); Sabur Sheikh, Bilu, Sarwar Sheikh, Krishna Axharya,
Tuku, Afizur Rahman, (of Chhoto Kalia village); Mahtabuddin, Saifullah,
Siddikur Rahman, Abid Hussain (of Chandppur village). This apart all the
Hindu households in Mirjapur were rampaged.
Fleeing mostly are the Hindu females
and children who fear for their life and dignity. Describing the situation
of his locality, Kabirul Haq, Chairman of the municipality, declared that
these atrocities occurred due to the revenge attacks organized by "Alliance"
candidates who were defeated in the local election. He was surprised that
the local police acted as silent observers. He is deeply concerned about
his own security, as well. Sahidul Islam, acting head of Kalia police station
said that he tried to do his best with limited resources. An official mentioned,
on condition of anonymity, that the locally based "Alliance" leader
with strong influence on the current Bangladeshi Government was directly
responsible for what has happened. That is the reason why the police was
not taking any action. Addressing a press conference, Abul Kalam Azad,
President of Awami League (the opposition party) for the district of Norail
District, stated that the local Member of. Parliament, Hirendranath Saha,
is accountable for these atrocities. He further told the reporters that
an announcement was made by the local "Alliance" representative just before
the recent election that should the Alliance candidates lose the election,
all Hindus would be evicted from here. "Alliance" cadres are now carrying
out that threat.
