3 dead in clashes following reported desecration of holy book in Bangladesh

Dhaka: Violent incidents were reported from several places in Bangladesh on Wednesday following an incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in Cumilla town. Three people were killed and several others injured in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur after people clashed with police. Section 144 has been imposed following violence. Two platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain peace and restore order.

Violence was also reported from Cumilla, Chattogram, Kurigram and Moulvibazar. Idols and temples were vandalised and houses attacked in multiple incidents. BGB was deployed in six upazilas of in Chattogram district after several temples and homes of Hindus were attacked in Banshkhali and Karnaphuli upazilas, reports the local media.

In Cumilla, at least 50 people were injured including journalists and common people were injured in clashes in Hajiganj. Temples were attacked by the mob last night in



Hajiganj. 

The government has asked the local administration to investigate the incident in Cumilla where the Holy Quran was reportedly desecrated inside a puja mandap on Wednesday. Subsequently, several temples were vandalised and houses attacked in Cumilla on Wednesday.The local police held a meeting with community representatives to establish peace.

Earlier, the State Minister for Religious Affairs Md. Faridul Haque Khan has urged the people to exercise restraint and not take law into their hands. He called upon people to maintain religious harmony and peace. 

He said that the government is closely monitoring the situation in Cumilla and the local administration has been instructed to investigate the incident. He warned that anyone involved in destroying religious harmony in the country will be brought under the ambit of law and will receive proper punishment.