Staff Reporter :
Another youth named Md Sagor, 25, succumbed to injuries at DMCH on Tuesday morning after he was injured in the clash between police and protesters near the Lakshmi Narayan Akhra temple in Chandpur’s Hajiganj upazila over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla.
Finally the total number of deaths from the incident is now five, confirmed Md Harunur Rashid, Officer-in-Charge of Hajiganj Police Station.
As many as 71 cases have been registered so far in connection with attacks on puja mandaps, temples, houses and businesses in other parts of the country. At least 450 people have been arrested from different places on suspicion of being involved in these incidents. The police headquarters said in a press release on Monday.
Some more cases are pending, and the number of arrests could also rise further, the press release added.
Meanwhile in Noakhali, the information sent by the representatives quoting the local police shows that a maximum of 18 cases have been registered there. Of these, eight cases have been registered in Hatia, six in Begumganj and one each in Sonaimuri, Kabirhat, Chatkhil and Senbagh police stations.
In these cases, 4,000 to 5,000 people have been named as unnamed accused, including the names of 285 people. Ninety people have been arrested in these cases.
Cumilla has the second highest number of five cases after Noakhali. The number of accused in these cases is 562. Till Monday, 40 people have been arrested.
Four cases have been registered in Chattogram. 1,450 people, including unknown persons, have been accused in these cases. Ninety three people have been arrested there.
Besides, three cases have been registered in Chandpur, Feni and Gazipur.
Meanwhile, two cases have been registered on charge of the attack on a Hindu community house in Pirganj and Rangpur on Sunday night.
However, 41 people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident, said Swaresh Chandro, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirganj Police Station.
Meantime, ruling Awami League and its associated bodies organized peace and harmony rallies all over the country on Tuesday.
At the rallies, Awami League leaders have assured the country’s Hindu community that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ruling Awami League are beside them always.
A rally was held in front of the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka.
At the rally, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said “Sheikh Hasina’s government is a minority-friendly government. Awami League activists will remain on the streets till the forces against communal harmony are tackled”.
“Do not fear Hindu brothers and sisters. Sheikh Hasina and Awami League are with you”, he said.
The unrest began over a news that a copy of the holy Quran was found in a temple during Durga Puza in Cumilla last week.
