POBNEWS24, Dhaka Aug 8, 2024 : Local residents keep vigil at night in the Hindu-dominated villages of Jessore, Bangladesh. Since last Monday night, they have been guarding religious places of worship and houses with sticks, flutes and flashlights to protect them from attacks, vandalism, arson, robbery and looting.
After the news of Sheikh Hasina’s departure, more than half a hundred Hindu houses and Hindu businesses were attacked, vandalized, arson, robbed and looted in Jessore’s Abhaynagar, Manirampur and Bagharpara upazilas since noon last Monday. All this happened till the next day Tuesday night. These incidents spread fear among the Hindus. Later, a meeting was held to guard against religious attacks and it was decided to keep a vigil in the Hindu-dominated village.
Talking to local residents, public representatives, youths and youths, it is known that local people are guarding different villages in groups to prevent attacks. News presented by the media.
Some eyewitnesses and house owners said that last Monday afternoon, several hundred people attacked at least 25 shops in Narikelbaria market of Bagharpara upazila.
Out of these 20 are Hindu shops. They looted all the goods in the shop at that time.
In the evening, the house of Narikelbaria Union Parishad (UP) chairman Bablu Kumar Saha of Bagharpara upazila was attacked and vandalized.
Later that night, 10 to 12 people with Ramada and native weapons cut the grill of Liton Kundu’s house in Narikelbaria village and entered the house. All of their faces were covered with black cloth. They took the people of the house hostage at gunpoint and took gold ornaments and cash.
UP Chairman Bablu Kumar Saha said, currently the people of the Hindu community in the area are in extreme insecurity. Villages are guarded by groups of four to five people to prevent attacks, vandalism and looting of temples and houses.
Manirampur Upazila Kultia UP Chairman Shekhar Roy said, ‘My own house was attacked and vandalized.
A fire has been set in front of a temple. Out of 17 villages in the union, 8 are Hindus. To prevent attacks, vandalism and looting, the people of eight villages are guarding the village in small groups at night.
A group of people attacked the house of Manishankar Roy of Barandi village, a member of Ward No. 6 of Payra UP in Abhaynagar upazila, on Monday afternoon and vandalized and took away cash and gold ornaments. In the evening, the houses of Bishnupad Dutta, Robin Biswas, Yudhisthir Biswas and Mohen Bairagi, residents of the same village and former chairman of Payra UP, were attacked and vandalized. The house of businessman Krishna Dutta of Dhopadi village of the upazila was also attacked and looted.
On Monday night, an armed group of 10 to 12 people entered the house of Ravishankar Biswas in Jaikhola village of the upazila and took gold ornaments and cash. At that time, three people of the house were beaten and injured. Chiranjit Roy of the village said, “We have been guarding the village in groups since Tuesday night.”
10 villages in Sundali Union of Upazila.
All the villages are dominated by Hindus. Residents of 10 villages are guarding the villages at night. Priyabrat Dhar of Sundali village said that the watch starts from 8:30 in the night and continues till 5:30 in the morning. The people of 10 villages from Sundali market were contacted on mobile after a while.
Chairman of Sundali UP Bikash Roy said, “I had an office in front of my house.
It was demolished by attack. I am not currently residing in the area. Residents of all the villages of the union are guarding the villages at night.
