Alongside the government, the ruling Bangladesh Awami League, its different associate bodies and various socio-cultural organisations are now working together to fight against the recent rise of fanaticism in different parts of the country.
According to sources, fanatic groups, with support from the anti-liberation forces and other vested quarters are hatching conspiracies against the state and the government as well, and with the intention of toppling the government, they are trying to fish in troubled waters by destabilising the situation of the country.
As part of their ill-motivated plan, those vested quarters are spreading rumours, false propaganda and trying to destroy communal harmony by attacking the people of the Hindu community, vandalizing their religious institutions.
In this circumstance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, directed all of her party leaders, activists and supporters to be aware of such types of conspiracies.
The Prime Minister also has directed her party men to stand beside the victims as well as to fight against those conspirators and defeated forces of 1971, with united forces.
As part of her directives, to make the people aware of such conspiracies, the ruling Awami League and its different associate bodies continued holding rallies and staging demonstrations across the country.
They are now working at the field level so that no such incident takes place further.
According to sources, apart from the Awami League, the government has also taken a series of steps and actions to ensure security and boost the confidence of the Hindu community following the recent attacks on the Hindu community and their religious institutions like temples.
Over 100 cases have been filed accusing around 21,000 people in connection with violence against the Hindu community. Of them, around 600 people have been arrested so far while drives to arrest the suspected culprits were underway, according to official data.
Cash assistance, foods, clothes, other essential commodities and house construction materials have been provided to the affected families of the minority community by the government as well as the ruling party.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday declared that houses would be made for those affected by the violence. "Steps have already been taken in this regard," she said at a programme at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The government has declared zero tolerance against the culprits responsible for the disruption of communal harmony in Bangladesh, according to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a bid to boost confidence and ensure safety of the minority community, vigilance of law enforcement agencies has been strengthened across the country, and the ruling party men are aiding them.
Home Ministry officials said a total of 117 platoons of the para-military Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in 37 districts and three metropolitan cities, while the police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and plainclothesmen are patrolling round the clock.
Biplab Barua, Office Secretary of Awami League, said, the Awami League has directed its countrywide units to remain vigilant and assist law enforcers to thwart any communal disruption,
It already held a countrywide communal harmony rally on Tuesday protesting the heinous violence.
Several ministers, senior Awami League leaders, members of parliament, and top government and law enforcement officials visited the affected and vulnerable areas in the past few days following the directive of the prime minister.
Apart from the ministries concerned, the Prime Minister's Office is also monitoring the situation at the directive of Sheikh Hasina, said Ihsanul Karim, press secretary to the prime minister. "Bangladesh is a land of communal harmony and none will be allowed to thwart it," he added.
Social media and online media are being monitored constantly, and over two dozen people including an assistant professor of Begum Badrunnessa Government Girls’ College have been arrested for their involvement in spreading rumours, according to Police Headquarters.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has issued directives to all public representatives and union parishads, upazilas, municipalities, district councils and city corporations to remain vigilant and play their due role in maintaining peace and harmony in their respective localities. To this end, the ministry will hold a virtual meeting on Sunday.
LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam also visited Cumilla from where the incidents spread following alleged defamation of the Holy Quran.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has held meetings with preachers of major religions in the last few days and directed them to build awareness, motivate people and disseminate the essence of communal harmony for maintaining peace, said Additional Secretary Md A Awal Howlader.
