CAO denies communal link in 11 minority deaths
The Chief Adviser’s Office has refuted allegations that the recent killings of minority community members in Bangladesh were driven by communal violence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the office attributed the eleven deaths reported during the first two months of 2025 to factors such as prior enmity, theft, domestic disputes, and reckless behaviour, asserting that none of these incidents were connected to communal violence.
The statement came in response to a March 12 press release by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, which claimed that violence against religious minorities remains rampant in the country.
The Council had documented a total of ninety-two incidents of violence against religious and ethnic minorities during the period, including the eleven killings, alleging that such attacks persist unabated as they have in the past.
The Chief Adviser’s Office countered the Council’s claims by providing detailed accounts of the incidents involving the eleven deaths:
1. In Gaibandha, Diplu Sarker was killed by associates over the sharing of stolen money.
2. In Netrakona, Dilip Kumar Shaha Roy was murdered by unknown assailants in his home while his family was absent.
3. Rajib Talukder was killed due to an ongoing personal feud.
4. In Sunamganj, Gita Rani Das died after being struck by an unidentified motorcycle while crossing the road.
5. Umepru Marma was shot dead in Bandarban by unknown assailants outside his home, following an altercation with a neighbour over a goat.
6. In Chapainawabganj, auto-rickshaw driver Sree Palash was killed by criminals attempting to steal his rickshaw.
7. Sree Dipen Munda was murdered in Moulvibazar as a result of a long-standing dispute.
8. Kanai Shabdakar died after a quarrel within his family.
9. The body of Kanai Pashi was found in a tea garden under mysterious circumstances.
10. Arnab Kumar Sarker, a student at Khulna University, was fatally shot by unknown assailants, linked to a previous conflict.
11. In Narayanganj, Utpal Roy was killed by unidentified individuals who broke into his house and stole 150,000 taka while he was alone.
The Chief Adviser’s Office accused the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council of misrepresenting the facts. “Information gathered from field units suggests that the Council’s claims distort the actual situation,” the statement read.
The office further criticised the Council for its history of controversial statements, saying, “Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council has misreported such stories. Time and again, they have made unsubstantiated claims about the abuse of minorities in Bangladesh. Yet, when confronted with the facts, they persist in refusing to correct their misleading publications.”
“As we continue to strive for unity and progress, it is vital to distinguish between the various causes of violence and to address them appropriately. Only through collective effort can we build a society that prioritises peace over division,” the statement concluded.
