Attack on the Hindu gatherings of Nam-Kirtan (hymn of Lord Krishna) at Sachar (Kachua), many wounded: Minister involved.

Translated from "The Daily Janakantha" dated 20th February, 2003.

Manir Haider, Kachua (Chandpur): It was expected to see the gatherings of thousands of Hindu devotees there, should be the festive of "Hymn of Lord Krishna" and the joyful gala of children. For 150 years, at every "winter full moon" (Maghi Purnima) it was the said festivity being observed in the promises of Lord Jagannath Temple. This time too the festivity started as scheduled by the thread of heritage. However, the event could not finish successfully. A group of barbarians have attacked the four-day Hindu religious festival and blemished the event. The Islamic Fundamentalists beaten up invited singers, Temple priest and the attendee men, women and children. The militant then ransacked the festival destroying everything in their path. Before attacking the festival, the miscreants also attacked local Hindu merchants, beaten them up and looted all the valuables of 20 to 25 shops belonging Hindu community. Local people reported that a Minister of Bangladesh government was involved in the incident. According to reports, local Hindus and the religious festival were attacked due to community’s lack of support to the politician in the recent “Union Parishad Election” who happen to be the right hand of the said Minister. Last Friday, the said Minister of the ruling party declared that if local Hindus do not vote to his nominated candidate for the Chairmanship “Union Parishad”, there would be no Hindu villages in the locality. After the threatening notation of the Minister in the public meeting, local minority Hindu community was feeling unsecured yet they could not postpone the century old traditional “Nam-Kirtan”. Hundreds of devotee from various parts of the country had joined the century old religious festival at Sachar. Police has arrested three person in this connection.

Sachar is a peaceful and quite Hindu dominated village under Kachua subdistrict of Chandpur. The 80% shops at the nearby market belongs to Hindus. At the west wing of the market resides the century old large complex Sri Sri Jagannath temple. There are some Muslims families also living side by side with Hindus at the village. There were no communal attacks on the Hindu minorities here during 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1992. Some assert that there were peaceful coexistence here.....  

Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): This renowned Jagannath Mandir at Sachar of Kachua P.S. was attacked by terrorists and during Kirtan. This is the temple where hundreds of minority Hindus were attacked.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Adv. of HRCBM with the injured victim Jagannath Paddar of Sachar, P.S. Kachua. HRCBM has sent representative to investigate the incident.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): The victim of Sachar Jagadish Ghosh showing his broken showcash where sweets of Sachar shop to representative of  HRCBM-Dhaka	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): The sweet shop of Jagadish Ch. Ghosh was ransacked by the terrorist at Sachar Kachua P.S.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Prof. Ashok Taru asking the S.I. of police Md. Hamidul Haq of Kachua P.S. regarding torture upon the minorities at Sachar.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Adv. Ghosh of HRCBM inquiring about injury inflicted upon Arun Saha Asstt. Teacher of Sharul Govt. Primary School .
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): The victims of torture (from left) Nepal Chandra Ghosh, Subhir Banik, Manik Ghosh, Jagadish Ghosh, Sumir Gope, Badal Banik, Anil Ch. Shaha and Arun Kumar Shaha with head injury describing their torture one after another to Adv Ghosh.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): The victims of torture Mrs. Ganga Rani Shaha and her husband Anil Shaha showing broken utensils to Adv. Ghosh at their hotel at Sachar.

Note: This investigative report is prepared by Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh.