Arrest killers, ensure security of minorities

Human rights activists, leaders from different religious community yesterday urged the government to arrest the killers of the Buddhist monk in Naikkhangchhari immediately as well as ensuring the security of the minority communities.

Calling for a collective move against the murder, they said people from all religions need to be united, otherwise killings would continue unabashed, while addressing a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital organised by Bangladesh Buddhist Federation.

U Damma Oaing Cha Bhikkhu, a 73-year-old Buddhist monk was found dead, with his throat slit, inside his temple in Bandarban on Saturday.

Advocate Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad, said a smokescreen has been created to hide the real criminals of the recent killings.

Barrister Biplob Barua, assistant secretary of central sub committee of Awami League, said the monk's murder is a part of the series of killing and hoped that none will make any comment regarding the murder that will interrupt the investigation. 

Dilip Barua, former minister and president of the Samyabadi Dal, Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, lawmaker Ushatan Talukdar, Dr Jinobodhi Mohathero, Ashoke Barua, general secretary of Buddhist federation, Bhikkhu Sunandapriya, joint secretary of the same organisation and Nirmal Rozario, secretary general of Bangladesh Christian Association, also spoke.

Meanwhile, denouncing the killing of the monk, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said the government is blaming the opposition for the recent killings in a bid to use those barbaric assassinations politically.

“It seems their [government] main target is not to destroy dens of the real perpetrators…rather their target is to use those killing incidents politically. They are blaming oppositions including BNP immediately…,” Khaleda said in a statement.