Mob attack on Bangladeshi Catholic school raises alarm
St. Gregory’s School and College were attacked amid street violence between students in Dhaka
Updated: November 27, 2024 07:45 AM GMT
Catholic Church officials have asked Church-run education institutes to remain cautious after vandals attacked and looted a reputed Catholic school in the national capital, Dhaka.
A mob of some 30-35 students attacked St. Gregory’s School and College in Old Dhaka on Nov. 24 amid street violence between students from several colleges between Nov. 23-25, the school authorities confirmed.
In a statement on Nov. 25, the authorities said the rampage lasted for hours and caused damages estimated for about US$100,000.
The violence forced the college to suspend classes indefinitely.
The attackers “vandalized our school premises, office rooms, beat up two of our security guards and looted goods,” the statement read.
“In terrorist style,” the attackers “cracked crude bombs and created panic,” it added.
Jyoti F. Gomes, secretary of the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board (BCEB), has urged Dhaka’s 19 Church-run institutions, including schools, colleges, and a university, to remain vigilant.
Gomes told UCA News that educational institutions, including those run by Christians, have been facing troubles since a students-led uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime in early August.
After Hasina and most Awami League ministers and leaders fled to India, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus took charge.
Hundreds of houses, businesses and some worship places of minorities, mostly Hindus, came under attack. Hindus who make up the largest religious minority group, are considered supporters of Awami League.
Yunus administration said the attacks were primarily politically motivated, and actions have been taken to identify and arrest perpetrators.
The student clashes and vandalism from Nov. 23 onwards reportedly stemmed from the death of a college student in Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital in old Dhaka.
Abhijit Halder, a student of Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, died on Nov. 18, two days after he was admitted with Dengue fever allegedly because of hospital negligence.
A student protest against the hospital soon spread across the capital, with violent clashes with students at nearby schools and colleges.
At least 100 students were injured in the three days of clashes, media reports say.
Holy Cross Brother Placid Peter Rebeiro, principal of St. Gregory’s School and College, founded in 1882, said the attack was “unprecedented and shocking.”
The school authorities have sought “deployment of police in our school, but the police said they would be patrolling the area but were not in a position to deploy law enforcers at the school,” Rebeiro told UCA News.
After the violence following Hasina’s fall, Oblate Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze of Dhaka wrote to the interim government seeking protection of Christian-run education institutions.
D’Cruze told UCA News on Nov. 26 that the attack on St Gregory had a “chilling effect” on the Christian community.
“These are private schools, and the damage caused by the attack is huge. Who will compensate the school?” he asked.
“Whether the attack had religious motivation or not is a different issue. Our teachers and students remain in fear. We want the security ensured,” D’Cruze said.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told journalists on Nov. 25 that police tried to prevent violence but were not willing to engage in direct confrontations with the students.
Alam said the attack on St. Gregroy’s was part of the overall clashes in that locality.
“That attack did not have any religious motivation. Police have stepped up security to avert violence,” he said.
