Bangladesh Home Minister alleges attacks on Hindus 'pre-planned'

Following a spate of violence during Durga Pooja celebrations against the minority Hindu population in Bangladesh, Home Minister Azaduzzaman Khan said that the attacks appeared to be "a motivated act instigated by a vested group" which would soon be brought to light. The minister also alleged that the attacks were orchestrated to disrupt communal harmony in the country.

The minister referred to the attacks in the Comilla region as part of this supposed orchestration and said that "attempts were also made to destabilize the country through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar" while speaking to reporters at the secretariat on Sunday.

On Saturday, Hindu-owned temples and shops in Feni, about 157 kms from Dhaka, were vandalised and robbed during fresh clashes after an attack on demonstrators who were protesting against the attacks on Durga Puja venues in several places in Bangladesh, said reports.

Violence erupted in Bangladesh after it was alleged on social media that a group of Hindus had desecrated a copy of the Quran during Durga Pooja celebrations in Nanuar Dighi. Durga Pooja venues were vandalised in areas like Chittagong, Bandarban and Moulvibazar. On Friday, one man named Jatan Kumar Saha was also killed and 17 others were injured in an attack in Begumganj Upazila of the country's Noakhali district during Durga puja celebrations on Vijaya Dashami, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to bring all the culprits of the violence to justice