Bangladesh deploys paramilitary forces after Muslims attack Hindus

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Paramilitary forces have been deployed to curb religious tension in Bangladesh after a Muslim crowd vandalised Hindu homes and temples in an eastern district on the weekend, officials said on Thursday.

The chief of Brahmanbaria district police, Mizanur Rahman, told newsmen about the measures taken after Sunday’s attack.

“We have taken every necessary measure to ensure peace. The situation is absolutely under control.

“Eleven suspected attackers were taken custody,’’ he said.

He added that the paramilitary forces were also deployed to guard Hindu neighbourhoods that had come under attack.

Hundreds of Muslims used locally-made weapons to attack homesteads and temples of Hindus, a religious minority in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, over a controversial social media post by a Hindu man.

The Facebook post, which showed an image of the Hindu god Shiva on top of the Great Mosque in Mecca, caused anger among Muslims.

A local resident, Mashuk Ridoy, said over a dozen temples and nearly 100 homesteads were ransacked in nine villages east of Dhaka.

The district police chief, however, said five temples and 20 homes were attacked.

“The suspect who had posted the controversial image on Facebook apparently was also arrested,’’ he said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said people belonging to minority faiths are safe in Bangladesh.

Reports say less than 10 per cent of the 160 million nation’s inhabitants are Hindus.

“We are assessing the damage and the victims will be compensated,’’ the minister said. (dpa/NAN)

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