Bangladhesh anti-Buddhist violence 'planned'

Thousands of rioters torched Buddhist temples and homes in southeastern Bangladesh on Sunday over a photo posted on Facebook deemed offensive to Islam, in a rare attack against the community.

Published: 30/09/2012 at 09:18 PM

Officials said the mob comprising some 25,000 people set fire to at least five Buddhist temples and dozens of homes in Ramu town and its adjoining villages, some 350 kilometres (216 miles) from the capital Dhaka.

Nojibul Islam, a police chief in the coastal district of Cox's Bazaar, said at least 20 people were injured. Authorities did not say if any of the rioters were arrested.

The rioters claimed the photo allegedly defaming the Koran was uploaded on Facebook by a young Buddhist from the area, district administrator Joinul Bari said.

"They became unruly and attacked Buddhist houses, torching and damaging their temples from midnight to Sunday morning," he said.

"At least 100 houses were damaged. We called in army and border guards to quell the violence," he said, adding that authorities had temporarily banned public gatherings in the area to prevent further clashes.

The Daily Star of Dhaka quoted Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir as saying the violence was a "premeditated and deliberate act of communal violence against the minority".

The minister alleged that a local politician, Lutfor Rahman, had fuelled the violence

"This lawmaker used the people who went there to stage protests against the photo. He instigated them to launch an attack and kill the Buddhists," he told local media in Dhaka.

The man who sparked the riots, who has gone into hiding, told local media he did not post the picture, insisting someone else had "tagged" his account with the image on the social network.

His mother and an aunt were given police protection for their safety after the violence broke out, officials said.

Police officer Rumia Khatun said about "25,000 Muslims chanting God is Great" first attacked a Buddhist hamlet in Ramu, torching centuries-old temples, and later stormed Buddhist villages outside the town.

Witnesses described rioters leaving a trail of devastation at the Buddhist villages.

"I have seen 11 wooden temples, two of them 300 years old, torched by the mob. They looted precious items and Buddha statues from the temples. Shops owned by Buddhists were also looted," said Sunil Barua, a local journalist on the scene.

Barua, himself a Buddhist, said 15 Buddhist villages were attacked and more than 100 houses were looted and damaged. "The villages look like as if they were hit by a major cyclone," he reporte by phone.

The country's home minister, industries minister and national police chief rushed to the scene Sunday morning.

The riots later spread to Patia, home to a sizeable Buddhist population, outside the southeastern port city of Chittagong, where mobs attacked and vandalised three temples, local police chief Aminur Rashid said.

"They damaged statues and looted valuable items. We brought the situation under control," he said, adding security has been tightened in all Buddhist villages and temples in the area.

Buddhists, who make up less than one percent of Bangladesh's 153 million population, are based mainly in southeastern districts, close to the border with Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

Sectarian tensions have been running high since June when deadly clashes erupted between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar's western Rakhine state.

Although Bangladesh, where nearly 90 percent people are Muslims, has witnessed deadly clashes between Muslims and Hindus in the past, sectarian clashes involving Buddhists are rare.

In recent weeks tens of thousands of Muslims have hit the street across the country to protest a US-made anti-Islam film mocking the prophet Mohammed.

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Discussion 1 : 08/10/2012 at 04:57 AM: Dear Brother Ershadmz #59, I think as long as we stay out of theology, and let everyone practice any religions as one sees it, it should be fine. Coming out from Hinduism, Buddhism doesn't describe to Abrahamic theology of the Creation's accounts of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible/Koran. As a result, Buddhism and Islam, along with Christianity, are so far apart as they have absolutely nothing in common. So, in my humble opinion, as long as we extend our grace and consideration to all the people of different faiths, we should be able to live together in peace and harmony. God bless...
Discussion 2 : 07/10/2012 at 09:30 PM: Dear Brother Nick, I share your feeling.People around the world are divided. Some are black, some are white and some are brown. Some are poor and some are rich. Some are muslim,Christians,Jews, Hindu and Buddists. May be there more sects. Human kind is from one man and one woman with same blood.Tell me,why such divisions are there? Who created such divisions? We have one planet, one human kind, one blood. Think about it and tell me.
Discussion 3 : 07/10/2012 at 11:26 AM: Dear Sister Somnamna,thanks a lot for your kind response. Global interactions and conversations needed between communities and religion to built a better world. We must know each other better. We are from one man and one woman.Human being is one community, one blood but divided in thousand pieces. Understanding is very less, antagonism,anger and hate are very high. Why world is like this can you tell me. Just think and think,I am sure you will get the answer. Bangladesh is secular country with muslim majority. Ramu incident was created by some vested interest group to benefit in politics. It has nothing to with religion. Some poor young boys were hired with money to do this unthinkable inhuman job. Once again I say, I beg apology to world community. We are sorry,we are sad. Forgive us.
Discussion 4 : 06/10/2012 at 11:09 PM: D#52 Brother Ershadmz: I respect your input here, thank you very much, this incident was totally irresponsible in means of coexistence with your fellow Bengali citizen who practice a different believe than the majority but I believe those who cause that are more of confrontational type of Muslims who believe there is a competition between Islamic world and others, What I really don't understand what were the politics motivation behind that and why do they have to do such thing? It looks like revenge to me as I live in a secular Muslim country but never understand those kind of actions by other Muslims? And for what?
Discussion 5 : 06/10/2012 at 02:19 PM: Dear Brother Ershadmz #55, I can only hope that all of the people of all faiths in the world, especially, Muslims, will become like you one day, you know, gracious and thoughtful! God bless...
Discussion 6 : 06/10/2012 at 10:31 AM: Dear Brother Spiceman,thanks a lot for your kind response. No, we do not have any constitutional sharia law. Our constitution is secular. We have more than 10 per cent religious minorities,they follow their religious law in case of family issues.Even muslims follow their religious law in family matters. Our constitution has been evolved from British law and system. Our courts are run by British law and mixed. Parliament is on British system. Since muslims are majority they dominate the politics. In a democracy numbers are important than value and quality.Quality people do not come to politics. I guess,RAMU incident is a political game to tarnish the image of Bangladesh. Our buddists brothers are unthinkably peaceful. They do not involve in politics. Once again I beg apology to world community.
Discussion 7 : 06/10/2012 at 01:50 AM: Khun Ershedmz #52, I appreciate your heartfelt apology and explanation of the recent violence against Buddhist minority in your country. Bangladesh has always been a peaceful country until this recent violent incident, so it seems to me that violent islamic radicalism has finally arrived in Bangladesh. May I ask you a question whether your country has a secular Constitution or islamic Sharia Law as the Law of the Land? By the way, your country's parliamentary building is one of the most beautiful architectural marvels of the world, despite of the low price tag when it was built. God bless...
Discussion 8 : 06/10/2012 at 12:53 AM: I do sympathize for the many good muslims in the world. However, acts of these nature just solidify why the stereotypes will continue. Why the aggression on one of the most peaceful people around? Buddhists (in the asian region) have more fights with NATURE than with PEOPLE. By doing this, do they qualify for their 72 virgins?
Discussion 9 : 05/10/2012 at 10:18 PM: Ramu incident against Buddists has been condemned by all in Bangladesh. Those who did this shmaless job are poor. We saw them. But we have not seen them who instigated the poor boys. Almost all medias of Bangladesh accused that law enforcing agencies were inactive and did not respond to the call of the people. Government of Bangladesh can not shrug its responsibilities to bring the culprits invisible under law and justice.It was a clear cut game to turnish the image of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is always a very peaceful country. I am poet journalist from Bangladesh. I beg apology to world community for the Ramu incident. Oh GOD punish the sinner and save the innocents.
Discussion 10 : 02/10/2012 at 05:31 AM: When the history dilettantes have had their fun there is still the present issue of thousands of people being incited to murder, pillage and arson. Sorry, but all your fancy footwork doesn't avoid this.
Discussion 11 : 02/10/2012 at 01:50 AM: Khun Abbub #45, so, the Muslims destroyed 5 Buddhist temples in Bangladesh because of their on-going Middle Eastern conflict with people who practice Judaism? Is it like, I am mad with the Jews, so I burn down the Buddhist temples? If that the case, would you mind connecting the dots for me? Thank you.
Discussion 12 : 01/10/2012 at 05:52 PM: What is it with Muslims that they will kill and touch people with different beliefs? Why? It's difficult to comprehend.
Discussion 13 : 01/10/2012 at 05:19 PM: Right and Wrong. Maybe the picture was sinful in the eyes of the protestors but the destruction and desecration of another religion is much worse.
Discussion 14 : 01/10/2012 at 04:37 PM: D#13 Khun Spiceman: I noticed that a very small percentage of all Muslims overreact that way esp. who lives in extreme poverty, but for many Muslims are confirming every bad thing others say about them in those movies or cartoons? some lunatic made a movie defaming Mohammed then Muslim groups want to take revenge on entire nation that had nothing to do with it? Religion = the Great Divider, and the biggest force for violence, oppression and murder ever invented by the human imagination.
Discussion 15 : 01/10/2012 at 04:28 PM: abbub disc # Yes we have agreed on many things and probably still will. Afghanistan was warned months ahead of the consequenses if they did not cooperate turning over Bin Laden and gang. Granted most of the expedition has been a failure. Iraq was just a one big mistake if you ask me. But as far as all the atrocities we commited "collateral damage" muslim terrorist use human shield hide out in schools and hospitals like cowards. The lopping of heads off, dragging bodies through the streets, slinging human guts around chanting "God is great" Talk to a Iraq or Afghanistan veteran and get some more autrocity stories. I believe for every autrocity we commited the muslim terrorist equaled ours Dont know what you mean when you say we dont get access to new around the world my friend. I read all kinds of different global news publications here on the internet, watch Algezeera everyday along with others I believe I get a good world assessment daily. Cheers abbub
Discussion 16 : 01/10/2012 at 03:27 PM: SPICEMAN conveniently ignores all statistics. if we look at the numbers of Mulsims killed by "the rest of the world" they far higher than those killed by Muslims. Without even counting the Muslims killed by Muslims as a result of the West interfering. Just think of the hundreds of thousands killed in the Iraq-Iran war, which was financed by the West when Saddam was our buddy, and using chemical weapons on Iranians and Kurds was fine and dandy. But, at the risk of again having these statistics refused by the BP I will try once more to just isolate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since September 2000 through October 2010 total deaths: Israelis: 1,196; Palestinians: 6,568. A "partial" breakdown: Children killed: Israeli: 124; - Palestinian: 1,452 Civilians killed: Israeli: 731; - Palestinian: 4,226 People killed in the course of a targeted killing: Israelis: 1; - Palestinians: 408
Discussion 17 : 01/10/2012 at 03:21 PM: @ Discussion 33 (sailor1): Europe has indeed been happy enough to have had such heroes as Carolus Martellus, Juan I of Austria and Eugen of Savoy who kept those fanatics out of our backyard. Sorry to say there are no heroes in Europe anymore.
Discussion 18 : 01/10/2012 at 03:17 PM: I just do not understand why the Buddhist people around the world are do nothing while they torched and destroy the holy Buddha statues. We, all Buddhist should show our unhappiness about their assault on our religion, by peacefully.For example...protest outside the embassy of Islamist country.Thailand should start the protest as soon as possible ,as a leader of Buddhist country.Like they protested when U.S made anti-Islam film came out.
Discussion 19 : 01/10/2012 at 03:15 PM: D#37 Khun blob123: You are mistaken, Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why those Muslims so mad? Do they have a reason to be angry because of the policies of the US and some western governments? It's not like invade their countries for no good reason;? steal the resources under their feet; drone attack their villages; meddle in their domestic affairs to repress democratic movements; prop up foreign dictators that intimidate, arrest, torture and kill the general population; treat them like criminals and spy on them and harass them everywhere and insult their culture, religion and way of life and at the end the other side expect a kiss on the cheek? I am not applauding their actions but this what happen if human oppressed beyond bounds, Look for war on the outside you will find an enemy on the inside.
Discussion 20 : 01/10/2012 at 02:00 PM: Khun Abbub #40, I hope you can explain to me why Islam is basically at war with all other religions, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and etc, including itself (Sunni vs Shiite)? Can Muslims practice their Islam without killing all other nonbelievers or burning down their churches and temples, like what has just taken place in Bangladesh? Thank you.
Discussion 21 : 01/10/2012 at 01:40 PM: JACKSPRAT D34: During the period of Moorish Spain, the "world" was living in relative peace for hundreds of years, with Muslims and Christians and Jews living harmoniously. Advances in medicine, astronomy, the arts went in long strides. When the Crusaders "liberated" the peninsula they burned books, killed Muslims, segregated Jews and set up implements of torture beyond what we would imagine was possible for human beings to invent. Beside that yes, there were periods of Muslim expansionism though military means, as there was by most countries, Buddhist included. But the "genius" of the Inquisitions' horror stand apart from the rest of history. Only the nazis were ale to rival the barbarity of such religious zeal. KHUNBILL D35: "Everyday on the front page here is a story of Muslims burning and killing somewhere in Thailand and the world". We usually agree on the essentials but, here, I must say maybe this is because we do not access the news from elsewhere? How many tens of thousands have been killed by "us" just in Afghanistan and Iraq? We justify our own atrocities...
Discussion 22 : 01/10/2012 at 01:30 PM: Since the article is about vandalism supposedly sparked by a picture, perhaps a description of the picture would have been in order.
Discussion 23 : 01/10/2012 at 01:30 PM: BLOB D37: "The problem is this people instead of doing something useful finance terror with the oil money and stir up trouble all over the world." Do you even have an inkling of the ridiculousness of that statement? I think it so childish and superficial even replying to it is demeaning.
Discussion 24 : 01/10/2012 at 12:35 PM: ref dis 27 You and other similar are wrong, all Arab countries in North Africa and the Arab Peninsular together don't even have the economic output (except oil) as little Finland in Europa. The problem is this people instead of doing something useful finance terror with the oil money and stir up trouble all over the world. I guess they somehow got it that they are unable to do anything meaningful and they compensate this with irrational behavior.
Discussion 25 : 01/10/2012 at 12:30 PM: I think this sort of problem will spread to all over the asean region sooner or later.
Discussion 26 : 01/10/2012 at 12:25 PM: Not sure is my first comments got posted maybe a bit overbearing. Look at this. Everyday on the front page here is a story of Muslims burning and killing somewhere in Thailand and the world. Why can't they learn to play well with others and stop blaming the world for their political, economical and social failures.
Discussion 27 : 01/10/2012 at 12:17 PM: "to the Inquisitions and Crusades" - Ah, the Crusades ... how terrible. Of course, it was perfectly all right for Islamic armies to invade Europe and rule certain countries for several centures.
Discussion 28 : 01/10/2012 at 11:38 AM: ref D 27: nice piece of taqqiyah, brother.... history, then. battle of lepanto, tours/poitiers, siege of vienna.
Discussion 29 : 01/10/2012 at 11:36 AM: Nothing against Muslims, but this has gone too far.
Discussion 30 : 01/10/2012 at 10:47 AM: pquinlan D28: "The most eloquent response to this needless violence is the Buddha statue itself which has simply remained ..." While I think your statement is far too simplistic I must agree it is a beautiful thought...
Discussion 31 : 01/10/2012 at 10:40 AM: And we allow these same people to immigrate into our own countries, this is the real madness!
Discussion 32 : 01/10/2012 at 10:36 AM: ref disc 19 In Myanmar is a group of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who call themselves Rohingya they started the riots against Buddhists just the same way as the mob did again now. The real problem in the 21.Century are Islamist, they are responsible for almost all violence and terror in this world.
Discussion 33 : 01/10/2012 at 09:57 AM: The most eloquent response to this needless violence is the Buddha statue itself which has simply remained ...
Discussion 34 : 01/10/2012 at 09:46 AM: WVAVIN D11: "Why are muslims keep creating trouble to this world?" Well, one reason is people like you making statements like this, and getting so many thumbs up. Your statement is typical of the anti-Muslim sentiment stirred up in large part through US propaganda about how they are the bad guys and "we" are the good guys. If you go back in history you need not even go very far, just the cutting up of the post WWI Arab world for our convenience to see how the West has continued to give the Muslims raw deals. Yes you can go back further, to the Inquisitions and Crusades, but why refer to Christian atrocities, right? In particular though since post WWII the West has set up murderous dictators and kept them in power. For example Saddam who, as long as he was murdering only Kurds and Iranians with poisoned gas was our ally. Throughout the Arab world (and Persian, where we did exactly the same when the CIA toppled an elected PM threatening to nationalize oil) dictators that played along with us were fine and dandy. And still are.
Discussion 35 : 01/10/2012 at 09:39 AM: Why is it that organized religion which is apparently supposed to teach people to be good instead incites divisions in society and hatred ?
Discussion 36 : 01/10/2012 at 09:31 AM: This is great news and not before time. Keep me posted on the outcome.
Discussion 37 : 01/10/2012 at 09:28 AM: Getting "Offended" should not be an excuse to riot, burn & kill. Be careful Thailand, the Southern situation is on its knife's edge.
Discussion 38 : 01/10/2012 at 09:14 AM: Buddhists mind their own business and are well behaved, In many other religions people are clueless about the principles of their beliefs, they react violently out of fear of what they do not know and their lack of understanding, inferior confidence witin themselves and they compensate for this by looking for any excuse to destroy or get angry rather than to seek reasoning.
Discussion 39 : 01/10/2012 at 08:53 AM: Yet another example of why religions of all kinds have been so destructive to mankind from their inception. Wake up people and start seeing the reality of our world.
Discussion 40 : 01/10/2012 at 07:56 AM: Another example of the non violent, peaceful religion of islam.
Discussion 41 : 01/10/2012 at 07:46 AM: spiceman #14, "did you know that all of the 9/11 highjackers (hijackers?)were highly educated".---- By whose standard? Anyway, if you still did not question the government 9/11 version you may have the same problem as the uneducated Muslims listening to their Mullahs.
Discussion 42 : 01/10/2012 at 07:35 AM: It is not only radical Islamists that are the problem, how long ago was it that Buddhists attacked the Rohingya in Burma, Christiand killing Christians, Moslems killing Christians and the other way around, Jews killing Moslems and the other way around. The real problem is ALL religions preach peace BUT if things are taken out of context selectively by some "religeous leaders" this is the result. If I could only have one wish granted in my lifetime it would be that there are NO religions in the world.
Discussion 43 : 01/10/2012 at 07:29 AM: Uneducated ? The first riots in Pakistan against the film was by lawyers !! These uneducated Muslim lawyers tried to break in to the American embassy to burn it down !! from iPhone application.
Discussion 44 : 01/10/2012 at 07:17 AM: I beleive that religious feeling is a debilitating mental illness.
Discussion 45 : 01/10/2012 at 06:50 AM: "This lawmaker used the people who went there to stage protests against the photo. He instigated them to launch an attack and kill the Buddhists," Calling for burning down property seems to be popular amongst law makers in the region !?!
Discussion 46 : 01/10/2012 at 06:22 AM: A lot of uneducated, poor people get brainwashed and fired up by unscrupulous manipulators whose agenda is served by creating prejudice, hatred and violence. Thank God, Buddha and Allah we live in Thailand.
Discussion 47 : 01/10/2012 at 05:16 AM: Khun Undertaker #8, did you know that all of the 9/11 highjackers were highly educated, and sure know how to read the Koran? The problem is the Koran itself, with murderous verse like "Slay all infidels (unbelievers of Allah) wherever ye find them." (Surah 9:5, the Koran) Therefore: Human being + X = Terrorist, but Human being - X = Human being. I hope do you know what "X" is. As a result in general, although, not all Muslims are terrorists, all terrorists are Muslims.
Discussion 48 : 01/10/2012 at 05:01 AM: This only proves that Muslims can get mad over anybody and anything, including the Jews, the Christians, the Hindus, the Buddhists, and even their own fellow Muslims (Sunni vs Shiite).
Discussion 49 : 01/10/2012 at 03:10 AM: Religion should be something between a person and his personal choice of god... not something to impose on others.
Discussion 50 : 01/10/2012 at 01:45 AM: Why are muslims keep creating trouble to this world?
Discussion 51 : 01/10/2012 at 01:08 AM: Any more proof needed what this so called religion and their leaders teach their followers. With every passing day the rest of the world is loosing what little respect there was for that sect is a better word.
Discussion 52 : 01/10/2012 at 12:12 AM: Some film made in another country depicts muslims as irrational and violent. And in response, Muslims irrationally and violently attack buddhists who had nothing to do with the film. It is deeply ironic that Muslims directly support the stereotype leveled against them. I believe that when a people indicate that they want a war, they should be courteously obliged.
Discussion 53 : 01/10/2012 at 12:10 AM: kasper i would say these people never read the Koran if you notice its the uneducated people that do the rioting in these situations its what they are taught by their superiors that they believe and act on such a waste over a picture harry
Discussion 54 : 30/09/2012 at 11:45 PM: There should be a war against Islam if this is the sort of thing Muslims constantly do.
Discussion 55 : 30/09/2012 at 11:06 PM: There is no place for this "religion of hatred" in any society. Our collective inability to see and stop this rot will cost us all dearly, sooner than later.
Discussion 56 : 30/09/2012 at 10:44 PM: Never let religion to influence and destory world peace and harmony !!!
Discussion 57 : 30/09/2012 at 10:44 PM: Religion of peace
Discussion 58 : 30/09/2012 at 10:38 PM: Strange that God seems to need protecting by humans.
Discussion 59 : 30/09/2012 at 10:36 PM: It won't be long before some muslim will write that this has nothing to do with Islam, and that Islam is a religion of peace. It was just 25,000 people who read the Koran wrong - as always. Perhaps it is time to rewrite the Koran, as it seems very few muslims are able to read and understrand it properly. Somehow they always come to the conclusion after having read it, that everything and everyone must be burned and killed for whatever reason!
Discussion 60 : 30/09/2012 at 09:41 PM: This is the human junk which continuously creates trouble to Buddhist people and make the Buddhist responsible for it, we know this from the resent violence in Myanmars Rakhine State, in India where the mob came across the border etc. and after the UN tells us this are such poor people we should be nice to them.

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