Mayhem in Bangladesh: Prime Suspect Apprehended: Investigation to pick up momentum?

[Sukla Sen]

So, the operation was carried out under the cover of darkness - well after midnight, and the following (very early) morning the police was called up, who would promptly collect the book.

By that time, a video was already posted on the social media and that was the trigger for the bloody mayhem that would soon ensue at a number of locations - many far from the original site.

Bears the hallmarks of a (large) conspiracy. 

However, for now, one'd have to wait for the further/final outcome of the investigations.

<<Police have arrested Iqbal Hossain, the person responsible for keeping the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Comilla, from Cox’s Bazar [in Chittagong].

Comilla Superintendent of Police (SP) Faruk Ahmed said Iqbal was arrested from the Shugandha beach area around 10:10pm on Thursday.

“We’ve sent him to Comilla right away,” Cox’s Bazar Additional Police Superintendent Md Rafiqul Islam told Dhaka Tribune.

Police identified Iqbal as the prime suspect on Wednesday after scrutinizing the CCTV footage.

...

After a brief meeting inside the [local] mosque – run by the shrine authorities – at 11pm on October 12, Hafez Humayun kept the Quran in a closet while Iqbal was seen leaving the mosque.

Another footage circulated on Wednesday shows Iqbal collecting the Quran from the mosque after several hours, at 2:12am. He then walked outside and placed the Quran on the lap of an idol, Hanuman, at the temporary Durga Puja venue in Nanuardighi.>>

(Ref.: <https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/10/21/comilla-attacks-prime-suspect-iqbal-arrested-from-cox-s-bazar>.)

[Sukla Sen]

Reproduced below is an interesting pl response from an interlocutor on another list.

I, for one, would imagine that it's a fairly realistic summing up of the current state of affairs in that troubled state.

Would, however, like to add that, as in India, the difference between "pragmatic communalists" and "programmatic communalists" is of very high practical significance.

Never mind the "moral" hairsplittings by the "purists".

That's how despite all flaws - some even severe, an AL regime is still hugely different from a BNP one - from the standpoints of the various vulnerable sections, in particular.

One could hardly have expected this exposure - rather precisely its opposite would have happened, had there been a BNP regime in place.

Sukla

P.S.: Here's an update: 'Iqbal 'admits' to placing Holy Quran at Comilla mandap', Dhaka Tribune, at <https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/10/22/police-iqbal-placed-holy-quran-at-comilla-mandap.

Here're a few more valuable inputs - unfortunately, as is to be expected, all in Bengali.
I. <https://youtu.be/CvFlRHUxvo8>.

This is a programme held on 13th itself.

It's in the early morning that day the "desecration" was discovered and the (bloody) troubles erupted.

II. Two days thereafter: <https://youtu.be/zskcHMnC24Q>.

A cleric fanning the fire, using very restrained  language.

III. <https://youtu.be/ITk1l-p47PA>.

This is a programme held on the 18th.

Eight days after the triggering incident.

By that time, the embers of the mayhem have, largely - though not completely, died out.

The fanatical outburst of tempers has substantially cooled.

IV. <https://youtu.be/ITk1l-p47PA>.

Just a few hours back.

This programme openly declares itself as one of those battling the "evil forces".

One of the participants - a Hindu and the leader of the joint association of the Hindu, Buddhists and Christians, has, in a very reasoned manner, quite emphatically pointed an accusing finger at the police administration - from local OC, of the ground zero, to the SP Comilla, while appreciating the public utterances of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and such others.

(The Ekattor (i.e. '71) TV, as the tag itself suggests, claims to uphold the legacy of the liberation war.)

V. A further update: <https://youtu.be/qoBQta-7TsU>.

These discussions, unmistakably, show the grim tussle between those who are set upon to fan the flames of fanaticism and violence from beyond the mask of (pretended) civility - meant for public consumption and those who refuse to yield, braving the possible consequences, and stand up on the side of communal amity and peace.

(It may be pertinent, here, to point out that in the very recent past, there was a broadly similar lineup on a "non-political" issue arising out of a spirited and public fightback by a young popular heroin - acting in crass commercial movies, against the rape attempt by a wealthy and powerful personality belonging to the right-wing BNP.

Vast sections of the state and the civil society had come down upon her like a ton of bricks - in the ugliest possible manner.

Eventually, she - at least for now, has come out stronger, after having been incarcerated behind the bars.)

Not too dissimilar from the scenario we ourselves are grappling with.

The only, and salient, difference is that while the rulers in India are themselves orchestrating troubles, the rulers in Bangladesh are, definitely, trying to douse the fire - though not very effectively.

On Fri, 22 Oct 2021, 18:34 XXX wrote:

Interesting. BanglaDesh has become a Saudi Wahabi hot bed. It was poor so the Saudi's poured money in ints masajid and converted them to Wahabi hot boeds. Sheikh Hasina depends upon these bigots to get votes. Let us see how far the investigation proceeds.