Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
A vested quarter is often circulating fake news, morphed images and doctored videos on social media in a deliberate attempt to fuel communal tensions and incite violence in the country.
Even they are systematically spreading remours, propaganda and hate speeches on Facebook pages to destroy the social fabric, intelligence sources said.
The Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) cyber unit has identified around 2,500 of such Facebook pages, which are using to incite communal hatred in the country.
More than four incidents of communal violence recorded in the last few years across the country following circulation of extremely offensive Facebook posts.
Such posts were soon reacted upon and thousands turned to the streets to take the law into their own hands attacking Hindu families and setting fire to their houses.
The incidents took place at Nasirnagar (Brahmanbaria), Bangram (Pabna), Ramu (Cox’s Bazar) and Thakurpara (Rangpur).
Nasirnagar mayhem
On October 30 last year, a group of people launched attack on Hindus that left more than one hundred of their houses and some 17 temples vandalised and looted in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria over an anti-Islamic post.
Police have so far arrested 109 people in eight cases filed for the attack and six have so far given confessional statements in the court.
Ramu havoc
Religious fanatics attacked Buddhist homes and temples in Ramu, Ukhia, Teknaf and Sadar upazila of Cox’s Bazar on September 29 and 30 in 2012, following a Facebook post demeaning the Holly Quran. It was posted using a fake ID of Uttam Barua.
They destroyed 12 pagodas and more than 50 houses of Buddhist community in Ramu of Cox’s Bazar. A forged Facebook profile of a Buddhist youth was used to instigate the crimes in a planned manner.
Bangram chaos
Religious zealots went on a rampage at Bangram in Sathia upazila of Pabna on November 2, 2013 attacking and looting the houses and shops of Hindu community members following reported derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the holy Quran on a Facebook account.
The attackers vandalised and looted 10-12 business establishments, 25-30 houses and three temples. They also torched the house of the alleged instigator, Rajib Shah, a Hindu boy.
Thakurpara mayhem
Protesting a Facebook post, hundreds of zealots attacked Thakurpara village in Rangpur Sadar upazila on November 10 this year. They torched 11 Hindu houses, vandalised many others and looted valuables from there.
A man was killed and about 20 others were injured after police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
The following day, police filed two cases with Gangachhara and Rangpur Sadar police stations over the attack, accusing 2,000 people, including named 28.
“A vested quarter is circulating photo-shopped image or spreading religious hatred through Facebook or other social media posts in a planned way. Such posts are often hurting the religious sentiments quickly inciting the mob to take laws in their own hands,” CTTC cyber unit Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alimuzzaman told The New Nation yesterday.
He said these Facebook pages are also being used by militant organisations to recruit members.
“We’re yet to develop the mechanism to prevent the spread of hate speeches on social networking sites,” he added.
Alimuzzaman said the government is in a talk with the Facebook authorities to strike a deal to identify fake Facebook IDs and deactivate them.
He also said intelligence agencies are working round the clock to monitor the Faceb0ook pages and contents which spreading hate speeches and remours to provoke communal violence. The CTTC official urged the people not to believe in any kind of rumours, which is benefiting trouble mongers.
“Rising attacks highlighted how vulnerable the minorities are in Bangladesh. This kind of vandalism done by the mob is of course condemnable. The law will punish those who take it into their own hands,” a Hindu Community leader told The New Nation yesterday, seeking anonymity.
He said, “Bangladesh has a long history of communal harmony. But the recent growth in religious extremism has led to an escalation in general intolerance all around us leading to such communal violence”.
“Culture of impunity and partisan interest also helped flare up such incidents,” he added.
He called upon the religious leaders and administration to work together to maintain peace and religious harmony in the country. “The government and law enforcers should prioritize safety and protection of rights of the minority communities after the rise of communal violence in Bangladesh,” he added.
