BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman stated on Friday that no trials or credible investigations have been conducted into communal incidents in Bangladesh over the past 15 years, during Awami League-led government tenure.
He accused the Awami League government of exploiting these events for its own political benefit.
Speaking while exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community in celebration of Janmashtami, he advocated for the creation of a civic investigation commission. This body, composed of civil society, political parties, and religious group representatives, would aim to uncover the true causes behind communal violence and ensure justice is delivered.
"Have there been any trials or proper investigations into communal incidents in the last 15 years?" Rahman asked, questioning the government's intentions.
The event, organized by the BNP at the party Chairperson's Gulshan office, marked the Janmashtami festival, a significant occasion for the Hindu community.
Citing incidents such as the Ramu Buddhist temple attack in 2012 and the 2016 Nasirnagar attack, Rahman highlighted the lack of accountability for these events. He further alleged that the Awami League government has used communal issues as distractions to cover up its mismanagement and corruption. "The government continues to manipulate communal tensions for its own narrow interests," he said.
Rahman stressed that a neutral examination of all attacks on minority groups and religious institutions would reveal that these incidents were driven by political motives rather than genuine religious conflicts.
He concluded by extending his warm wishes to the Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami, which was celebrated on August 26 to commemorate the birth of Lord Sri Krishna.
