Md. Aman Ullah:
The 13th anniversary of the ‘Ramu violence’ in Cox’s Bazar has been completed. On the night of September 29, 2012, miscreants set fire to and attacked 26 houses in 12 Buddhist monasteries and Buddhist villages in Ramu. The next day, 7 more Buddhist monasteries in Ukhia-Teknaf were burned down.Remembering this violent incident, the Ramu Central Buddhist Youth Council, Buddhist Social Movement and various Buddhist monasteries have taken the initiative to hold a day-long program on Monday, September 29, in continuation of the previous year. The program includes – Buddha Puja, hoisting of national and religious flags, painting exhibition, Maha Sanghadan including Ashtapariskar, Dharma discussion meeting, peaceful human chain, guest feast, lamp lighting, and collective prayer for peace in Bangladesh and the world.Renowned scholars, wise Buddhist monks and leaders will be present at the memorial meeting on September 29, the leaders of the memorial meeting celebration council said.On September 29, 2012, a Buddhist monastery and house in Ramu were attacked after a young Buddhist named Uttam Barua posted a Facebook post accusing them of insulting the Holy Quran.In the attack that day, 12 Buddhist monasteries and 26 houses that were hundreds of years old were burned down. In addition, the Buddhist monasteries and the damaged houses were extensively vandalized and looted. The next day, 7 more Buddhist monasteries in Ukhia and Teknaf were also set on fire, attacked and looted. 19 cases were filed in connection with the violence in Ramu, Ukhia and Teknaf. 15,182 people, including 375 people named in the complaint, were charged. Although one case was later withdrawn on the basis of compromise, the remaining 18 cases have not yet been settled due to lack of witnesses. The state’s lawyer at the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge’s Court said that the settlement of the cases is being delayed because the witnesses in the case do not want to testify.
Advocate Sipta Barua, organizer of the Buddhist Social Movement, said that the cases related to the attack are stalled only on the pretext that people from the Buddhist community of Ramu are not testifying. However, if the state wants, the photos and videos of the attack at that time can be verified and accepted as evidence and tried. There is no doubt that the well-planned plan of the terrorist groups to exterminate the ethnic community through impunity will lead to another attack. President of the Cox’s Bazar Buddhist Protection Council, Bhikkhu Pragyananda Mahathero of Ramu Central Seema Mahavihara, said that those who hurt the religious harmony of Ramu did not succeed. The wounds that were created, we have all overcome a lot in 12 years. However, the sad thing is that even though a decade has passed since the attack, the identity of the attackers of that incident still remains unknown. Local Buddhist leaders said that after the violent incident, the then government, through the Bangladesh Army, rebuilt the damaged monasteries in a beautiful way as per the demands of the Buddhists. The damaged houses were also rebuilt and renovated by the BGB. They said that those who wanted to destroy the thousand-year-old harmony of Ramu by attacking Buddhist monasteries and settlements have failed. Although the incident left a wound in the minds of Buddhists, the previous harmony in Ramu has largely returned due to the awareness of all religions. However, the sad thing is that even after a decade of the attack, the identity of the attackers remains unknown as the trial of the incident has not been completed. Meanwhile, the identity of Uttam Barua, whose Facebook photo was tagged in this communal attack, has not been found yet. They said that there is no contact with his mother, father, wife, or children.
Views: 2
