Jamaat Attacked Minorities

Fundamentalist Islamic Party Jamaat-e- Islami activists have attacked minorities in northern district of Pabna. Military regimes in Bangladesh have always favored and patronaged Jamaat as they are skilled to exploit Islam to rally their support for autocratic and non-elected governments. Law Advisor Barrister Moinul Hosein has found to be participating in Jamaat's student wing Islami Chatra Shibir's Annual summit. Another Advisor General Matin has publicly announced Jamaat's immunity from corruption. Kuwait News agency reports:

NEW DELHI, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- At least ten cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami have been charged in the Pabna district in northern Bangladesh for attacking a Hindu temple, damaging property and threatening devotees who had gathered there on September 4, an auspicious day in Hindu calender.

More police have been deployed in the area following the incident, Bangladesh's leading English daily The Daily Star reported Saturday.

"One of the activists has been arrested and the police are looking for nine more following a complaint lodged by Pradip Kumar De, President of the Temple Committee," the daily reported.

Properties worth USD 500 were damaged in the attack on the temple, the daily said.

There are 11.3 million Hindus in Bangladesh, which is 10.5 percent of the total population, according to the 2001 census.

This is not the first such incident in Bangladesh. Following the coming of power of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami alliance in 2001, it has been reported that minorities were harassed across the country. Jamaat-e-Islami is known to maintain close links with Pakistan and many of its leaders have been alleged to have supported Islamabad during the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. (end)