Prominent civil society members staged a protest in the capital on Monday, demanding speedy and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of communal attacks in Bangladesh.

The protest came in the wake of a series of attacks on the minority Hindus during Durga Puja celebrations. 

Under the aegis of Sampriti Bangladesh, a citizens’ platform promoting secularism, a large crowd gathered at Central Shaheed Minar on Monday afternoon and placed a seven-point demand for maintaining religious harmony in the country.

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Holding placards and banners, the civil society activists demanded the necessary steps for the "complete eradication of fundamentalism" from the country.

In fact, a total of 89 non-communal and pro-liberation organisations expressed solidarity with the protesters, Sampriti said.

Sampriti Bangladesh convener Pijush Bandyopadhyay led the event, while member aecretary Dr Mamun Al Mahtab Swapnil delivered the introductory speech.

Dhaka University VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman, former Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University VC Prof Kamrul Hassan Khan, Prof Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan of Dhaka University Teachers Association addressed the gathering.

Also present were Chandpur Science & Technology University VC Nasim Akhtar, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Assistant General Secretary Dr Nujhat Chowdhury, Projonmo 71 President Asif Munir Tonmoy, Muktijuddho Monch General Secretary Al Mamun, apart from many religious leaders.

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The recent communal attacks were an attempt to destroy the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the spirit of the Liberation War, they said.

The speakers demanded quickest possible action against those involved in the recent and past communal clashes, repair of the damaged temples, and effective steps to deal with social media rumours.