ASIA/BANGLADESH - Targeted killings of religious minorities: Justice is urgently needed

Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) - The targeted killings of members of religious minorities are of major concern in Bangladesh: says William Proloy Samadder, Secretary of the "Bangladesh Christian Association", who notes: "One is used to considering such attacks as isolated incidents, but now the issue has become more serious". In recent days, a Christian and a Hindu were killed. On June 5, a Christian grocer named Sunil Gomez was killed inside his shop in a Christian neighborhood in Natore district. On June 7, Ananda Gopal Ganuli, Hindu religious leader, was killed in Jhenaidah after wearing his usual religious clothing.
During a speech in Parliament on June 8, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised that those responsible for the targeted killings of religious minorities "will not go unpunished". Lawyer Rana Dasgupta, Secretary General of the forum "Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council of Bangladesh", explained: "Entire communities are terrified and feel very insecure. We see no intervention of political parties to find solutions to these problems".
"Attacks against religious minorities by extremist groups in Bangladesh has increased rapidly over the last few months", reports the NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). "Welcoming the commitment of Prime Minister Hasina to stop those responsible, government speeches must be followed by actions. The culprits should be arrested and prosecuted in order to put an end to impunity and ensure justice for all citizens of Bangladesh, regardless of their religion", concludes a note of CSW. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 09/06/2016)

Share:

religious freedom

---

---

religious minorities

---

---

human rights

---

---

violence

---

---

justice

---

---