Killings of 23 minorities found to have no link with communal violence: CA press wing

The deputy press secretary said not any single incident out of 22 was found to have any connection with communal violence

Chief adviser’s deputy press secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, spoke at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy this eveningBSS

Killings of 23 minority people, mentioned in the recent report of Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), was not found to have any connection with communal violence, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said Monday.

Azad said this at a press briefing in the capital’s Foreign Service Academy this evening.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council at a press conference on Thursday claimed that 23 people were killed in communal violence in the last four and a half months after the July uprising.

The interim government took the claim of the council very seriously and collected a list of the 23 persons, he said, adding that the Chief Adviser’s Office sent the list to the respective police stations asking for the real reasons behind each of the killing and what legal action has been taken, Azad said.

The deputy press secretary stated that the police headquarters provided details about each incident, saying the police were informed of the preliminary reasons behind 22 killing incidents out of 23. The police have taken proper legal action in this regard.

However, he said, no detailed information was found in one of the incidents.

The deputy press secretary said not any single incident out of 22 was found to have any connection with communal violence.

He expressed that seven were related to theft and robbery, while four were related to personal and family disputes, three related to general crimes like rape, excessive drinking of alcohol and quarrel, two related to accidents, two related to enmity over business, one related to a clash, one related to a land dispute, one committed suicide and the exact reason behind one death could not be known yet.

Azad said legal actions have already been taken in each of these incidents with due importance.

In two incidents, where one committed suicide and one died due to drowning under water, police have already submitted final reports after investigation, he said.

Azad said the other 21 cases were under investigation, while 47 people have already been arrested and 17 of these arrestees have confessed their responsibility and given confessional statements in court under Section 164.

He said the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus does not support any kind of violence and at the same time, it is concerned over spreading propaganda for labeling such incidents as communal violence.

The deputy press secretary said propaganda can lead to the destruction of the overall communal harmony of the country and urged all to play a responsible role in this regard.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also spoke on the occasion.

Leaflet distributors in favour of fascist to be arrested

Speaking at the event, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam warned that the cohorts of the fallen fascist, who would disseminate leaflets undermining the interim government and law and order, would be arrested.

“The cohorts of the fallen fascist are trying to create issues and are distributing leaflets. Our strong message to those who will distribute leaflets is that they will be arrested,” he told a press briefing here.

Alam said the words inscribed on these leaflets can affect the law and order in the country and that is why actions will be taken against them.

Mentioning that the cohorts of the fallen fascist are spreading disinformation online, he said they will be brought to justice too.

The press secretary said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said extortion must be curbed in any way so that the prices of essential commodities remain stable during the upcoming month of Ramadan and none can manipulate the market.