The National Human Rights Commission has expressed concern over the incidents of vandalism and violence in various parts of the country around the elections. The organization has written to three departments including the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate these incidents and take legal action against those involved. Meanwhile, some civil organizations have written to various departments including the Ministry of Home Affairs to take necessary measures, expressing fear of violence even after the elections. Many of the leaders of the minority communities feel that their community may become the target of post-election violence like in the previous elections.
In this regard, Advocate Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, told Samakal, 'Our situation is like that of house-burnt cows - I get scared when I see vermilion clouds. Minorities were the target of widespread violence around the 1991 and 2001 elections. This time the election situation is a little different but there is violence. We are concerned about the overall situation.'
He also said, "In the meantime, I have written to the relevant departments including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Election Commission, Human Rights Commission and other concerned departments. Hopefully, even after the elections, the law and order forces will take special measures for the security of the minority community at least for a week.'
In several letters, the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council identified the minority-inhabited areas as vulnerable and demanded that the citizens take measures to vote smoothly.
Professor Chandranath Poddar, general secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjakar Parishad, said, 'There is concern, there will be. For this reason, the government officials have been told about security. In many areas minorities, women and the relatively vulnerable have been attacked despite special measures. However, no matter how bad the situation is, we are hopeful that the government and the Election Commission will take adequate measures for the safety of the minority community.
A separate letter sent by the National Human Rights Commission said that human rights violations have taken place in the violent political context instead of healthy political practices. The Commission feels that it is necessary to investigate and take appropriate legal action against the perpetrators of anarchy, so that recurrence of such incidents can be prevented in future.
The letter also asked to take measures to ensure free, peaceful and violence-free movement of people.
When asked, Chairman of Human Rights Commission Kamal Uddin Ahmed told Samakal, 'Learning should be learned from history. Election violence was widespread in 2001, which still haunts. Three more elections have been followed by violence. However, in the 2014 elections, many polling stations were set ablaze in violence. Measures need to be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. In the meantime, there have been some sabotage incidents in different parts of the country centered on the election, which the commission is concerned about.
He also said, 'I have sent a letter to the relevant authorities including the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the incidents of sabotage and take legal action. We hope that effective measures will be taken along with strict monitoring of these incidents.
Stating that adequate measures have been taken for the security of the minority community, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told Samakal that the saboteurs who are being arrested across the country are the same gang led by the BNP. Various forces including army, police are performing duties in the election field. Everyone is alert. Appropriate action will be taken in each incident.
