THE attack on a festival of 18th Century Kantaji Mandir (temple) in the Dinajpur district early on Saturday shows that extremist forces are at work to destabilize the country’s peace and social harmony hitting at sensitive religious places. It is natural that it would terrorize the Hindu Community bringing extra pressure on the government and the law enforcing agencies to provide additional security to the temple and such other religious places of the Hindu Community. We condemn the attack although police are not sure yet whether it is a terrorist attack. But there is no doubt that unruly elements have carried out it. Police said they have arrested five suspects so far, but we equally hope that wrong people would not be harassed.
As it appears the homemade bombs attack on the Hindu religious festival came after an attack on a Shia Mosque in Bogra killing the Muazzen and a priest in Pabna. Earlier militants attacked a Shi’ite procession in the city during Ashura, besides killing two foreign nationals sending signals to outside world that Bangladesh is no more safe from terrorist attacks. Such variable attacks however give no room to claim that one religion is discriminated from another and what is clear is that a common enemy is trying to create religious discord. All arrested youths are Muslim to show that festivities go beyond religion in Bengali culture. Needless to say Islamic State claimed responsibility of all the earlier attacks adding fears and making no secret that they are working to destabilize the nation in absence of democratic governance.
The attack on Kantaji Temple ground took place at the opening of the month-long Hindu festival known as ‘Raaspurnima’ Mela, which is being held by the Temple Management annually since 1756. People from different parts of the country and abroad join the festival and violence was unprecedented so far. As it appears the authorities closed the theater after the attack where crowds were gathering including gamblers and such other anti-socials along with common people to enjoy the folk theater.
Sections of our people have become desperate and violent against oppression and intolerance of men in power even at social level. Social order comes from the rule of law for all. But the men in power think that law is for others to obey.
The nation is getting divided and violent. It is sad to see that the government is failing to protect religious harmony. The government, for some kind of alliance, is too sure of its stay in power. But the problems have to be solved politically with political freedom of expression and organisation.
