Dhaka: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has commented that the BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists are involved in the violence centered on the jalsa of the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh. At the same time, a BNP leader who was arrested in this incident has also confessed, he said.

He said this in response to a question from journalists after the law and order meeting at the secretariat on Monday (March 6). Earlier, the Home Minister presided over the law and order meeting on the occasion of 25th March Genocide Day, 26th March Independence and National Day celebrations.

When reporters asked about the incident in Panchagarh, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that there have been seven cases in this incident. So far 81 people have been arrested. BNP leader Fazle Rabbi is among those arrested. He confessed, they had come to stop the ceremony. He led behind the scenes.

He said Jamaat workers and BNP leaders gathered and prevented the Ahmadiyya community from conducting the event (Salana Jalsa). At one stage they set fire to their house. Fire was also set where the ceremony was taking place. A member of the Ahmadiyya community died in this. A camp leader, who had gone there, was also injured in the incident. died later

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that the law and order forces dealt with the incident with extreme patience and said that the situation there is normal at the moment. Now action will be taken according to the case. However, whether there is any failure of the police, it is also being investigated. An inquiry committee has already been formed. Any negligence on the part of the law enforcement agencies must be seen. Action will be taken accordingly.

Incidentally, protests, attacks, arson and clashes took place in Panchagarh last Friday (March 3) demanding the banning of the annual jalsa of the Ahmadiyya community. Two youths were killed in this incident. Besides, hundreds of police-journalists were injured.

Bangladesh Time: 1738 hours, March 06, 2023
GCG/RIS