Forty citizens and human rights activists in Bangladesh have issued a statement urging authorities to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, and legal action against those attempting to create communal unrest through intimidation and incitement.
"We know that Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, began with Mahalaya on October 2 this year," the statement said. "According to the government, the festival will be celebrated in 32,460 mandaps across the country. Traditionally, the people of Bangladesh have lived together peacefully, regardless of their religion. Every religious community must have the right to observe its festivals freely and securely."
The signatories expressed concern over recent years' increasing tensions during Durga Puja, pointing to incidents where false accusations of religious disrespect led to violence and vandalism of puja venues. They condemned efforts to incite violence by spreading fabricated stories on social media and attacking minority communities.
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"In some areas, we've already received reports of idol desecration and attacks on temples. Additionally, a faction with anti-minority sentiments has published an unauthorized list of restrictions on Hindu worshippers, dictating what they can and cannot do during the puja. This is both illegal and immoral," the statement continued.
The group urged the government to take firm action against those responsible for spreading unrest and inciting violence before any incidents escalate.
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"We believe the government will fulfill its promise of ensuring peace during this festival. However, we demand that anyone involved in creating tensions or promoting violence be dealt with legally, and the masterminds behind these actions be identified and prosecuted," the statement added.
The signatories warned that the public would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt the country’s social harmony and called on citizens, regardless of political or religious affiliation, to remain vigilant and take united action against communal violence if necessary.
The signatories of the statement include:
1. Anu Muhammad, Professor, Jahangirnagar University
2. Sultana Kamal, Human Rights Activist
3. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, TIB
4. Khushi Kabir, Coordinator, Nijera Kori
5. Adv. Z.I. Khan Panna, Senior Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
6. Parveen Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Central Women's University
7. Adv. Subrata Chowdhury, Senior Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
8. Barrister Sara Hossain, Honorary Executive Director, BLAST
9. Giti Ara Nasreen, Professor, Dhaka University
10. Samina Lutfa, Professor, Dhaka University
11. Dr. Sumaiya Khair, Professor, Dhaka University
12. Robaet Ferdous, Professor, Dhaka University
13. Dr. Khairul Islam Chowdhury, Professor, Dhaka University
14. Zobaida Nasreen, Professor, Dhaka University
15. Tasneem Siraj Mahbub, Associate Professor, Dhaka University
16. Mirza Taslima Sultana, Professor, Jahangirnagar University
17. Adv. Tabarak Hossain, Senior Lawyer
18. Dr. Shahidul Alam, Photographer
19. Rehnuma Ahmed, Writer and Researcher
20. Nasreen Khondokar, Anthropologist and Human Rights Activist
21. Shamsul Huda, Executive Director, ALRD
22. Saeeda Gulrukh, Journalist
23. Dr. Shahnaz Huda, Professor, Dhaka University
24. Adv. Salma Ali, Executive Director, BNWLA
25. Adv. Minhajul Haque Chowdhury, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
26. Rozina Begum, Researcher and Rights Activist
27. Maidul Islam, Associate Professor, Chittagong University
28. Dr. Swapan Adnan, Visiting Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science
29. Manindra Kumar Nath, Joint General Secretary, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council
30. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director, Coast Trust
31. Nova Ahmed, Professor, North South University
32. Zakir Hossain, Chief Executive, Citizens Initiative
33. Adv. Saidur Rahman, Chief Executive, MSF
34. Barrister Ashraf Ali, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
35. Barrister Shahadat Alam, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
36. Adv. Nazmul Huda, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
37. Adv. Md. Azizullah Emon, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court
38. Dipayan Khisa, Human Rights Activist
39. Hana Shams Ahmed, Indigenous Rights Activist
40. Muktasree Chakma, Rights Activist and researcher.