Attacks On Durga Puja Pandals 'Pre-Planned By Vested Groups', Says Bangladesh Home Minister

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said that the attacks on Durga Puja arcades were 'pre-planned'

ISKCON Sanyasis protest against attack in ISKCON temple in Bangladesh (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: After multiple cases have been filed against hundreds of named and unnamed people for the attacks in Comilla fort vandalizing Durga Puja Pandals, the Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said that the attacks on Durga Puja pavilions were 'pre-planned' and aimed at destroying communal harmony in the country.

His statement came after the Bangladesh police booked more than 4,000 individuals in connection with the violence that rocked the country in the last few days.

The Bangladesh Home Minister further said, "It appears to us that it was a motivated act instigated by a vested group."

 "Not only in Comilla, but attempts were also made to destabilize the country previously through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar," Khan was quoted as saying according to ANI.
He also smelled provocations by 'a third party' in the sporadic violence in the country over Durga Puja.  Khan said, "We'll make it public once we get all the evidence and those who were involved in it will be given exemplary punishment. Not only in Comilla, but attempts were also made to destabilize the country through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar."

The minister further said, "the people of Bangladesh are religious but, not a fanatic. We never allowed militancy and terrorism on the soil of Bangladesh. We contained militancy and terrorism through united efforts."

The minister further said that no incident has been reported since Saturday night and their security forces are working with patience and are probing information received by intelligence. "Those who are trying to destroy communal peace will not succeed," said the minister.

Several puja venues were vandalized in the area of Chandpur, Chittagong, Gazipur, Bandarban, Chapainawabganj, and Moulvibazar. The clashes resulted in several casualties, reported Dhaka Tribune.

On Friday, one man named Jatan Kumar Saha was also killed and 17 others were injured in an attack in Begumganj Upazila of the country's Noakhali district during Durga puja celebrations on Vijaya Dashami, Dhaka Tribune reported.