'Repression on minorities on the rise'

The press conference was organised by Bangladesh Human Rights Defenders Group (BHRDG) at the National Press Club in the city as the International Khatme Nobuwat Movement has declared to launch a fresh attack on an Ahmadiyah mosque at Nakhalpara in the city tomorrow.

The religious thugs tried to launch attacks on the mosque twice on October 6 and 13 but failed due to police resistance.

"We are worried over the frequency of attacks on minorities including Ahmadiyah community. The religion-based cliques are inciting these attacks to bring election to their favour," said Sharif A Kafi, director of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre.

He regretted that Bangladesh which has a long tradition of religious tolerance to minorities is being pushed towards fundamentalism by some vested quarters.

"These are the people who are trying to tarnish the image of the country and encouraging the western nations to put a tag of 'fundamentalism' on Bangladesh," he added.

Citing examples of Nakhalpara and Ashkona in the city, Dhanikhola under Trishal in Mymensingh and Jyotindranagar in Satkhira, Sharif said the attacks were carried out by people from outside the locality.

He urged the government, home ministry and police administration to ensure protection of the Ahmadiyah and all other minority communities.

The speakers also called on International Khatme Nobuwat Movement to discard fanaticism and communalism.

Afroza Akhtar, member-secretary of Nari O Manobadhikar Foundation, Benjira Shaheen, member-secretary of Bangladesh Coalition for Child Rights, Farida Hossain, member of Nari Pakkha, and Ajmol Hossain, director of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, also spoke on the occasion.