Three families still homeless in Rangpur, government admits

News report

Three families have still not returned to their homes after a few days of attacks on Hindu homes in Gangachara, Rangpur. Despite the deployment of the army, inspections by the administration, and demands for normalcy, the victims are still suffering from insecurity—a stark evidence of the government’s failure and limited responsibility, human rights activists say.

Aldadpur Balapara village in Betgari union of Gangachara was attacked in a series of attacks from Saturday night to Sunday on charges of insulting religion. The houses of the Hindu community were attacked. A teenage student was arrested. Immediately after he was taken to the police station, the ‘agitated mob’ attacked and vandalized more than a hundred houses with sticks.

On Monday, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal and Rangpur Superintendent of Police Md. Abu Saim visited the scene. Later, the district administration said that 19 of the 22 families affected by the attack have returned home. However, three families, including Ranjan Kumar Roy, are still staying with relatives in a nearby village.

Locals say that despite the presence of the army and police, attacks, vandalism and looting could not be prevented throughout the night. Many of the female members who were attacked are unable to return to their villages out of fear. The administration’s assurances and some cosmetic repair initiatives have not brought any relief due to the lack of real security.

The Rangpur Superintendent of Police said that a total of 12 houses were damaged, where 22 families lived. None of the members of Kishore Ranjan’s family are home. On the other hand, although the male members of 19 families are home, many women and children are still outside.

On the other hand, the government has been making multiple statements saying that the situation is normal and that legal action will be taken after identifying the culprits. But locals say that not a single charge sheet has been filed yet.

Several people from the Hindu community in the area, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “No one can be trusted here. The attackers were outsiders, but some locals showed them the way. Now we are living in fear.”

Human rights activists say that the repeated repetition of such incidents and the slow response of the government and administration make it clear that the communal attacks are still planned, and the government lacks the will to deal with them.

There have been allegations that the government is fulfilling its responsibilities by going to the scene, taking photos, issuing statements, and posting on Facebook.

The three families who have not yet been able to return home are referred to in official language as ‘staying at relatives’, but in reality this is a clear lack of security.