Even three years after arson attacks and vandalism on the homes and temples of Hindus in Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar upazila, those responsible are still to face any punishment as the investigations of most of the cases are yet to be complete.

Following the attacks, eight cases were filed with Nasirnagar police station accusing some 2,000 unidentified people, but law enforcers are yet to complete investigations and submit the charge sheets for seven of those cases.

In one of the eight cases, police pressed charges against 228 suspects, including several Awami League and BNP leaders, for the attacks on the Hindu community in Nasirnagar, in December 2017. No hearing has taken place since then.

Police arrested 124 in connection with the case, all of whom are now on bail, said the law enforcers.

Locals and minority community leaders have expressed their doubts and said they lost any hope of getting justice and the legal process is being prolonged by police. 

“I don’t have any hope that the people of Nasirnagar will get justice. There is saying, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’,” said Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad.

“What the police is doing is just an eye wash,” he added.

During the October 30, 2016 attack, religious zealots swooped on Hindus and vandalised and looted over 100 homes and 17 temples. The attackers also physically assaulted over 100 people of the community. In continuation of the attacks, the zealots set nine Hindu homes on fire on November 4, 5, 13 and 16.

Although the October 30 attack took place in broad daylight, following announcements from two rallies organised by two Islamist groups -- Touhidi Janata and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, police are yet to arrest the top leaders of those organisations.

The attack was triggered by an anti-religious Facebook post from the account of one Rasraj Das, 27.

Rasraj, a fisherman, was freed in January 2017 as police found evidence that his Facebook account was hacked or faked by someone else before the anti-religious posts were uploaded from it.

In the last three years, however, law enforcement agencies failed to track who actually uploaded the anti-religious post and what was the motive.

INVESTIGATIONS ‘ON’ 

Locals said that frequent changes of investigation officers for five cases has made it difficult to make any headway and submit the charge sheets.

On October 30, Kajal Jyoti Dutta filed a case over vandalism and attacks on Hindu houses and temples.

“Since then, five investigation officers have investigated the case but no progress has been made. I am really worried about the future of the case I filed,” said Kajal.  

Nasirnagar police Inspector Kabir Hossain is now investigating two cases -- one filed by Kajal and another by Rasraj’s brother Dayamoy Das over vandalism of their house at Harinber.

Kabir was the second investigation officer for the case filed with attacks in Harinber.

“The accused are unidentified as the plaintiffs cannot identify them. We need to investigate the matter analysing video footage, which is time consuming. But we are trying our best to submit a report as soon as possible,” he told this newspaper.

Nasirnagar police Sub-Inspector Kawser Hossain is investigating three cases filed by police, and he is the first investigation officer for a case filed over the arson attack in Nasirnagar Paschimpara and Nasirnagar Banikpara areas.

But he is the second investigation officer for a case filed over the arson attack in Nasirnagar Chengapara.

“We are in the final stage of investigation,” said Kawser. He, however, did not give a reason for the delay.

In November 19, 2016 Anjan Kumar Deb filed a case over an arson attack on his house. So far, three investigation officers investigated the case. 

Sub Inspector Abu Taher, the current investigation officer, could not be reached for comments.  

Brahmanbaria’s Detective Branch of police is investigating a case filed against Rasraj Das. 

Additional Superintendent of Police in Brahmanbaria Alamgir Hossain said they were monitoring the investigation in all the cases. 

“We will submit the reports one after another as soon as all the investigations are in the last stage.

“As there are many accused, it is taking time to submit the investigation reports. Moreover, we will need to submit accurate evidence to court so it is taking some time,” Alamgir said.

Rana Dasgupta said, “As all accused are on bail, all witnesses should be protected. We will also need a minorities protection act in this regard.”

A culture of impunity and delay in trial were among the central reasons why violence against minorities are taking place, he said.