West Bengal film industry celebrities condemn attack on Hindu temples, homes in Bangladesh

Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji tweeted: "Strongly, strongly condemn. A barbaric act."

Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay said: "Attack on religious minorities, be it in India, Bangladesh, or anywhere in the world, irrespective of which community is minority where, HAS to be condemned unequivocally , & perpetrators need to be brought to justice. here’s a small write up on FB."

Director Kamaleswar Mukherjee  was quoted as saying by UNI, "Religious fundamentalism is on the surge at home and abroad. The reason is the descent of socio-economic, cultural and scientific psyche. Protest against it. Otherwise, destiny will not pardon us." 

Bangladeshi actor Jaya Ahsan, who also worked in numerous Kolkata films, condemned this heinous occurence, was quoted as saying by UNI, "This valley of death is not my country. The exhilaration of hangmen is not mine. This huge crematorium is not my country. This bloodstained slaughterhouse is not mine."

At least 71 cases have been filed and over 450 people arrested in connection with the attacks at Durga Puja venues, temples, Hindu homes and businesses and for spreading rumours on social media last week, said Bangladesh Police.

On Monday, 71 cases were filed in different parts of the country but the number of arrests and cases could rise further, Dhaka Tribune quoted Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Md Kamruzzaman as saying.

The police headquarters here have issued warnings to people propagating conspiracies aiming to create instability by spreading rumours on social media.

The action comes after multiple temples, homes, shops and individuals of the Hindu community were attacked across several districts of Bangladesh between Oct 13 and 15.

Communal tensions gripped Bangladesh following allegations of the Quran being dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla on October 13, triggering violence in several districts across the country.

Several members of the Hindu minority were killed. Temples and private properties were burned, vandalized, and destroyed.

While four people were killed in police shootings during an attack in Chandapur’s Hajiganj on October 13, two died during attacks on Hindu temples in Noakhali’s Choumuhani on Bijoya Dashami.

On Sunday night, at least 20 homes were torched when Hindu villages in Rangpur’s Pirganj upazila came under attack over an alleged Facebook post hurting Muslim sentiments, the Bangladesh daily reported.

The culprits behind the attack have been identified and 45 people have been arrested.