Violent demonstrations in many places in Bangladesh after the attack on Hindu temples

Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police in the capital Dhaka and Noakhali on Friday following attacks on Durga Puja pandals and temples in Bangladesh.

The clashes took place after Friday prayers at the Baitul Mukarram Mosque and Kakrail area of ​​Dhaka's Paltan and Chaumuhani in Noakhali.

Along with this, there have also been reports that houses and shops of the Hindu community have been targeted in Chaumuhani of Begumganj, Noakhali. The Additional Superintendent of Police of the district has confirmed that a person named Jatan Kumar Saha has died in this.

During the demonstration in Dhaka, people carried posters of 'Malibagh Muslim Samaj'. At the same time, there were posters of 'Tauhidi Janata' in the demonstration held in Chaumuhani.

According to a report, the protesters were raising anti-India slogans and accusing Hasina of being "too close to New Delhi".

Demonstrations were being held in Dhaka and Chaumuhani against the alleged insult to the Quran in the Comilla district, which turned violent.

There were attacks on temples and puja pandals in several parts of the country, including Comilla and Chandpur, after an alleged insult to the Quran at a puja pandal in Comilla on Wednesday.

At least four people have died in a fire at a puja pandal in Begumganj in Noakhali and clashes in Hajiganj in Chandpur.

The government has deployed BGB security forces in 22 districts of the country to bring the situation under control. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised that those responsible for the incident would be punished.

At the same time, 4G and 3G mobile internet was banned across the country on Friday and the ban was lifted at 4 pm.

how the violence started

According to eyewitnesses, a group was raising slogans before the completion of Friday prayers at Baitul Mukarram.

When the protesters started taking out the rally, the police could not stop them at the gate of the mosque. After this, the rally went to Paltan and the police could not even stop them from going to Vijayanagar.

The police did stop the protesters from all three sides by putting up barricades at Kakrail Junction, but the violence started there.

While stopping and apprehending the protesters, stones were pelted on the policemen, then from the other side, the police started lathi-charge. The police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells to control the situation.

According to an eyewitness, the clash between the two sides initially lasted for 10 to 15 minutes but after that, it continued for half an hour.

After 2.15 pm, RAB security forces came and tried to control the situation.

A police officer told reporters that at least five policemen were injured in the incident.

Clashes in Noakhali's Chaumuhani

A Noakhali police officer confirmed to the BBC that they were trying to control the situation around 4 pm.

Locals said that after Friday prayers, a demonstration was being held under the banner of 'Tauhidi Janata' and this rally attacked the worship pavilion of College Road.

However, in the morning the idol was removed from the pavilion and there was no member of the Hindu community there.

After this, when the protesters started attacking the houses and shops of Hindus, the police started action to control the situation.

District Additional Superintendent of Police Shah Imran confirmed to BBC Bangla that a person named Jatan Kumar Saha died during the attack.

On Thursday night, unidentified people had set fire to a pavilion in Chayani Bazaar in Begumganj.

Sub-District Nirbahi Officer Shamsun Nahar told that idols were vandalized in another temple in Ikhlaspur.

Attempts to attack many temples of Chittagong

Rana Das Gupta of the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Ekta Parishad has alleged that several temples and pavilions in Chittagong were attacked.

He told the BBC that demonstrations were held in Chittagong after Friday prayers, and attempts were made to attack pavilions in several areas during the rally.

He said that he had stopped the immersion of the idol because of the protest.