Attack on Sunamganj hindus: Security beefed up yet fear persists

Sun Dec 22, 2024 12:00 AM

When a mob of at least a hundred locals was about to attack Minoti Rani’s house on the night of December 3 at Manglargaon village in Sunamganj, she grabbed her child and ran to the riverbank, leaving her home and belongings behind.

She heard from afar the roar of the mob as they pillaged her neighbourhood. Minoti spent the entire night by the river.

“They vandalised our home and looted valuables, including the gold my parents gifted me during my marriage,” Minoti added.

Her house was among at least 40 houses, one temple, two family temples, and four shops attacked that night, as per the count of this correspondent who visited the area lately.

The attack took place after local Muslims said a 21-year-old Hindu man, named Akash Das, posted an image on Facebook and it hurt their feelings, said Zahidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Dowarabazar Police Station.

Akash was detained by the police earlier that evening (December 3) and transferred to the district headquarters for his safety.

“As locals demonstrated, saying they were outraged by the Facebook post, we took the man in custody for his safety. The mob attacked our team and tried to snatch him. They then vandalised the houses of the man and several others and shops owned by Hindus,” said the OC.

Akash was later shown arrested in a case filed under the Cyber Security Act and sent to jail. However, his absence did little to quell the mob’s anger.

On December 14, ten days after the attack on Hindu neighbourhood, police filed a case and arrested four people.

The arrestees are Alim Hossain, 20; Sultan Ahmed Raju, 20; Emran Hossain, 26, and Shajahan Hossain, 21. All four are members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, said OC Zahidul Haque.

Of the accused, 12 are named and 150-170 unnamed, he added.

THE TRAUMA

The next morning, Minoti and her child left the village. She returned three days after that, but even now, fear lingers.

“Though I have returned, I am still scared. I live alone with my child because my husband works abroad,” she said.

Others shared similar experiences.

Sixty-year-old Milon Rani Das recalled hiding in the nearby jungle as the mob attacked. “We left the village silently when the mob left after over an hour. But when I returned on December 6, i found my house destroyed and belongings stolen. It’s hard to feel safe despite repeated assurances,” she said.

Pinki Rani Das, Akash’s sister-in-law, recounted the moments leading up to the attack.

“On the evening of December 3, police officers, local leaders, and others came looking for Akash. We handed him over, hoping it would prevent violence. It didn’t.”

The mob left scars — both physical and emotional.

Fifty-five-year-old Subodh Das suffered severe injuries, beaten with sticks. “My hands, legs, and hip were injured. I’m still undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and cannot return home anytime soon,” he told The Daily Star over the phone.

Sixty-five-year-old Pranati Bala Das, who fled with her daughter and granddaughters, broke into tears while recalling the night. “We left the village the next morning and returned after five days. Even now, I can’t sleep at night,” she said.

Kalpana Rani Das, whose bedridden husband was attacked, echoed these fears. “They broke into our house, hit my husband on the forehead, and took away everything.”

The shop owned by Roni Das, located by the main road, was among the first to be attacked. “They looted and vandalised goods worth over Tk 2 lakh. It was my family’s sole income source. Now, I don’t know how I’ll look after my family,” he said.

Besides, the Loknath Temple and two family temples were vandalised.

Mohammad Ilias Mia, deputy commissioner of Sunamganj, said, “Given the present context, even a house hit with a stick can be considered an attack.

“The Loknath Temple was given Tk 50,000, and two other family temples in the village received Tk 25,000 each. Besides, 10 families of Manglargaon village received Tk 10,000 each as compensation.

“To avoid further incidents, we had a meeting in the upazila. We have decided to form social committees with representatives from all religions to work on upholding communal harmony.”

VIGILANCE, GLIMMER OF HUMANITY

In the aftermath, police set up an outpost, and the army often patrols the area.

The steps taken by the administration have been successful in preventing further attacks. Reassured, many families, who left on the night of December 3, have returned.

However, the trauma stays. Men of the village still stay awake at night to guard against further attacks.

“Many families, especially women, have not returned,” said Birendra Das, a village elder. “We don’t know when life will feel normal again.”

When the situation spiralled out of control, Maulana Ekramul Haque, the Imam of Dowarabazar Central Mosque, rushed to Manglargaon to help.

“My home is adjacent to Manglargaon, and we’ve lived in harmony with the Hindu community for decades,” he said.

“Islam does not support vandalising or looting. Although we couldn’t save the houses already attacked, we tried our best to control the mob. Otherwise, the destruction could have been far worse,” added Maulana Ekramul.