2024-08-06 23:24:50
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern and deep disappointment over the attacks on the houses, places of worship and business establishments of religious minorities in the district and the indiscriminate burning of vehicles and looting of important state structures in the wake of the transition of power.
In a statement on Tuesday (August 6), TIB said, the organization believes that communal activities are enough to subvert, mislead and question the opportunity to build a non-discriminatory and well-governed state at the expense of the lives and sacrifices of the students. The TIB has also strongly demanded that the concerned officials take immediate and effective steps to protect the security of religious minorities and state assets.
Executive Director of TIB. Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘At the moment of the unprecedented victory of hundreds of students in the movement for equality, harmony and equal rights, we have to call for the protection of religious minorities and to refrain from the destruction and looting of state resources, which is very painful and disappointing. The anti-discrimination movement was successful only because of the spontaneous participation of the common people irrespective of caste-religion-class-profession. Students from minority communities have participated, martyred and injured in this movement due to their religious identity. What will we answer to their families? Such attacks on minorities go against the very spirit of the anti-discrimination movement. To protect whose interest, in what consideration are such communal harmony destroying activities being conducted? I urge everyone to play a responsible role in this matter so that this incredible opportunity of state building gained in exchange for the sacrifices of the students and people should not get stuck in the sands of communal power and narrow interests.’
Referring to the incidents of attacks on various government buildings, police stations, homes and businesses, starting from the parliament building, court premises and the residence of the chief justice, the executive director of TIB says, ‘Any state property belongs to the people of this country. These institutions have been built with the tax money of common people’s hard-earned wealth. Today those who are vindictively destroying these state institutions should think that whatever government comes, these institutions must be rebuilt to run the country. And so setting fire to any kind of state establishment and institution would mean—we are destroying our property. In addition to those who are in a responsible position to prevent such suicidal activities, the people must play an active role.
He said, ‘The incident of falling from the boiling pot to the burning fire should not happen. I urge all of us to play a responsible role so that we do not face a chaotic and anarchic situation from a suffocating freedom of speech, intolerant, discriminatory and undemocratic state structure. At the same time, I earnestly call upon all the countrymen to rise above individual and narrow interests and avoid vindictive attitudes and fulfill their respective responsibilities in building a well-governed and equal-rights beloved homeland for all, regardless of religion, caste and class, on the basis of justice and equality.