Certain quarters undermining govt's pledge for secular state: Minority leaders 

Leaders of minority communities have alleged that a certain quarter is actively trying to undermine the government's commitment to building a secular and humane society state.

They made the remarks during a human chain held on Friday morning in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The programme was organized in protest against recent incidents of communal violence.

The pre-protest rally was presided over by journalist Basudeb Dhar, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. Speakers included Gono Forum president and Oikya Parishad presidium member Adv. Subrata Chowdhury, acting general secretary and Oikya Morcha joint coordinator Manindra Kumar Nath, Bangladesh Christian Association's Subrata Hazra, Bangladesh Sanatan Party general secretary Adv. Suman Kumar Roy, World Hindu Federation joint general secretary Santosh Das, Bangladesh Hindu Mahajote (M.K) general secretary Dr. MK Roy, and others.

Speakers said religious and ethnic minorities in the country have long been facing insecurity. According to them, incidents of attacks and violence have increased in different areas following the election.

The leaders alleged that in the past month several incidents of murder, rape, attacks on temples, looting, and vandalism of houses and business establishments have taken place.

They claimed that in Tajumuddin of Bhola, a woman who participated in a religious festival was abducted and gang-raped. They also mentioned the killings of Akash Das in Chattogram, Sunil Banshfor in Bogura, businessman Ganesh Pal in Cox's Bazar, teacher Chayon Rajbhar in Bogura, Arun Adhikari in Jashore, rice trader Sushen Chandra Sarkar in Mymensingh, and Amitabh Chandra Sujan in Gaibandha.

The leaders demanded proper investigations into all such incidents. They called for the immediate arrest of those involved and exemplary punishment under the law. They also demanded compensation for the victims and proper medical treatment for the injured.

At the same time, they urged the government to enact a Minority Protection Law and to establish a Minority Commission and a Ministry for Minority Affairs. They called for effective steps to implement their eight-point demand.

After the human chain, several hundred people brought out a protest procession. The procession started from the Press Club area, marched around Paltan intersection, and ended at the same place.