Mizoram Chakmas protest attacks on Buddhists in Bangladesh

09 October, 2012

In a show of strong solidarity, thousands of Buddhist Chakmas took out a peaceful protest rally in Kamala Nagar in CADC, the Chakma heartland in Southern Mizoram against reported attacks on Buddhists in Bangladesh.

THOUSANDS OF Buddhist Chakmas took out a peaceful protest rally Wednesday in the heart of Kamala Nagar, Chakma Autonomous District Council of Mizoram, against the recent reported brutal attacks on Buddhist and Hindu minorities allegedly by Muslims in Bangladesh. The protest was organized by the Mizoram Bhikkhu Sangha and Mizoram Buddhist Association and supported by all NGOs in the Chakma heartland.

The Buddhist Chakmas also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms Sheikh Haisna through its High Commissioner in New Delhi. The Memorandum stated, “The recent well organized atrocities on 29th September 2012 which caused destruction of several Buddhist and Hindu Temples and attacked on religious minorities in Ramu and in some other minority domain places under Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh is … a gross violation of humanity”. They sought protection of the religious minorities under the Constitution of Bangladesh, reconstruction of the damaged temples, compensation and proper rehabilitation of displaced families, and swift punishment of those involved in the gruesome attacks.

According to New Delhi-based Asian Centre for Human Rights, 24 temples, including 22 Buddhist temples and two Hindu temples were attacked and burnt down, while at least 100 minority houses were torched in the attacks by Muslims that lasted from the evening of 29 September up to the next morning. One of the Buddhist temples which were burnt down was 250-years-old.