More blood

Sir — The organized attack on temples and homes of Buddhists in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh has not only tarnished the country’s image in the eyes of the world, but has also raised questions about its attitude towards — and its respect for — humanity (“National shame”, Oct 11). The savage violence spoke volumes about the intolerance of the people and the incapability of the government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens. Earlier this year, the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, a Buddhist-majority country, were forced to flee from their country and seek refuge in Bangladesh. However, Dhaka insisted that they return to Myanmar. The plight of this Muslim population might have partially stoked the fire of the unrest at Cox’s Bazar.

Bangladesh must take a serious view of such heinous incidents and adopt the administrative steps needed to curb them. It is unfortunate that while all religions convey the message of brotherhood, many followers stray from the teachings and interpret them to suit their own agenda. Reports of attacks on minorities make it clear that the law in the area concerned has not been designed to protect the victimized group from the wrath of the majority community. Governments should not have different sets of law to administer the people on the basis of religion.

Yours faithfully,
Srikanta Bhattacharjee, Calcutta

Sir — The editorial, “National shame”, has aptly highlighted the plight of minorities in Bangladesh. Attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh are nothing new. The country has shown itself to be incapable of providing security to the minorities on the basis of secularism. The founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had declared the country a democratic, secular state. But after his assassination, secularism was removed from the constitution.

It is a fact that secularism and democracy become irrelevant where religious fanaticism prospers with tacit support from — or negligence on the part of — the administration. One wonders how much security can be ensured for the lives and property of the minorities in Bangladesh merely through protests. Very little will change unless secularism is established as a constitutional obligation in the country.

Yours faithfully,
Mihir Kanungo, Calcutta

Sir — The recent act of vandalism — desecrating Buddhist temples at Cox’s Bazar — in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. The editorial, “National shame”, correctly states that these incidents may do “incalculable damage to Bangladesh’s credibility as a democratic country”.

There is a history of persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country has slowly drifted away from secularism. Extremist parties like the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen have played a role in this. It may be recalled that the Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party made an alliance with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami during the 2001 general elections. It is ironic that the Jamaat-e-Islami had been opposed to the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Indians are fortunate that there are visible efforts to stop such religious fanaticism in India.

Yours faithfully,
Jaideep Gupta, Calcutta

Ugly division

Sir — The assault on the thespian, Bimal Chakraborty, by a group of Trinamul Congress supporters was shocking. Chakraborty was attacked because he protested against the assault by the same group on fish sellers and vegetable vendors, who had joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) rally on October 1. Chakraborty lodged a general diary at the local police station.

One would expect that under such circumstances, the administration would stand by the victim and bring the miscreants to book. However, what actually happened was appalling. Chakraborty received a letter from his office declaring that he had been transferred to another department, where he is reportedly on ‘compulsory waiting’. Theatre personalities protested against the treatment meted out to Chakraborty.

Various other theatre personalities — allegedly owing allegiance to the TMC — convened a counter meeting, declaring that the protest was a political game played to malign the ruling party. It is unfortunate that the education minister, Bratya Basu, openly supported this view. An education minister should ideally try to inculcate a healthy ambience within the cultural scenario of the state.

Yours faithfully,
Ujjal K. Pal, Calcutta