Attacks on Hindu community: Hunger strike and sit-in at Shahbagh

Attacks on Hindu community: Hunger strike and sit-in at Shahbagh

Over 500 people under the banner of Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad today started a sit-in and hunger strike in the capital in protest against communal attacks in several districts during Durga Puja celebrations.

As per its earlier announcement, Oikya Parishad organised the sit-in and hunger strike in front of National Museum around 6:00am.

After the programme, protestors blocked Shahbagh intersection around 11:30am for an hour.

"Bangladesh achieved independence with the contribution of both Muslims and Hindus -- so that we could peacefully live together. But some perpetrators are trying to disrupt the harmony through communal violence. We strongly condemned this and demand punishment of the culprits," said Golam Kuddus, president of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote.

"We are condemning all communal attacks in the name of religion. We urge the government to immediately arrest the perpetrators and ensure exemplary punishment," said Prof Asim Kumar Sarker of Dhaka University's Sanskrit department.

"The government should take strong measures so that such incidents do not happen in the future," said Gobinda Chandra Mandal, associate professor of DU's Law department.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and trustee Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury also spoke that programme.