The Chakma Buddhists staged a demonstration outside the office of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala on Monday over attacks on a Buddhist monastery in Bangladesh and submitted a memorandum to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved with the alleged incident.
At least six Chakma organisations in Tripura including Chakma Buddhist Welfare Society, Young Chakma Association, Tripura Chakma Students Association, Chakma National Council of India and Tripura Rejjyo Chakma Gabuchya Joda jointly submitted the memorandum and alleged that the Katakhali Forest Buddhist Monastery in Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh was set on fire by miscreants on October 24.
The memorandum stated, “That the Katakhali Forest Buddhist Monastery took place following a series of incidents of vandalism and arson of Hindu temples, Durga Puja pandals, and attacks on Hindu minorities from October 13 this year shows that the government of Bangladesh has not taken any measure to ensure protection of the religious minorities in the country. This is because the government of Bangladesh as on date has failed to punish those who destroyed 19 Buddhist temples and about 100 houses at Ramu, Cox’s Bazar and Patiya of Chittagong in 2012.”
The Chakma Buddhists body demanded Prime Minister Hasina to bring the perpetrators of Katakhali Forest Buddhist Monastery attack to justice and ensure prosecution of those who allegedly destroyed 19 Buddhist temples and about 100 houses at Ramu, Cox’s Bazar and Patiya of Chittagong in 2012 through fast track courts.
