Bangladesh Violence 'Broke My Heart': Cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza On Recent Attacks On Minorities

Mortaza said that many Bangladeshi dreams were "shattered in the blink of an eye" due to the attacks on minorities. Check his full statement.

Mashrafe Mortaza (left) expressed his thoughts on communal violence in Bangladesh. (Image Courtesy: AFP)

Bangladesh's former captain, Mashrafe Mortaza has reacted to the ongoing violence against minorities in his home country. There has been a series of attacks on the Hindu community of Bangladesh. This series of violence against Hindus, who are in minority in Bangladesh, started after a supposed besmirching of the Quran at a Durga Puja pandal in Cumilla district last week.

Mortaza, who played a crucial role in Bangladesh's win against India in 2007 WC, said that many Bangladeshi dreams were "shattered in the blink of an eye" due to the attacks on minorities. These spate of attacks has left the cricketer heartbroken. 

He shared a post on Facebook in Bangla about the incident where he wrote: “Yesterday I saw two losses. One that of Bangladesh cricket team’s, which pained me, the other being the whole of Bangladesh's,  which has broken my heart.
This red and green (colours of the flag signifying the nation) is not what we wanted.
So many dreams, our 'Mukti Judhdho' struggles and battles of freedom and life ended in the blink of an eye!
May Allah guide us from here on."

Mortaza was referring to Bangladesh's T20 World Cup loss against Scotland in the first line. 

The Bangladeshi cricketer's comments invited a lot of praise from around the world. 

Meanwhile, the United Nations have looked into the violence in Bangladesh and said that it must stop. “Recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, fuelled by hate speech on social media, are against the values of the Constitution and need to stop. We call upon the Government to ensure protection of minorities and an impartial probe. We call upon all to join hands to strengthen inclusive tolerant Bangladesh,” Mia Seppo, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, said.

As many as 45 people have been arrested so far in connection with the communal violence that broke out in Rangpur of Bangladesh. On Sunday, 20 Hindu households were burnt down by radical Islamists in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur district.