The Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Tuesday said that most recent incidents involving attacks on religious minorities were not communal in nature but instead resulted from personal, financial, or family disputes, and general criminal motives.
The statement came in response to allegations made at a recent press conference jointly organised by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad and the Minority Oikya Murcha where statistics on violence and killings against minorities were presented.
In the press conference they claimed that 27 people were killed between January and June this year and 2,442 communal attacks and incidents of violence took place over the past 11 months.
In its statement, the police headquarters said 22 murder cases and five unnatural death cases were filed in connection with the deaths during the period but the underlying causes included land disputes, financial transactions, robbery, terrorist attacks, and family conflicts.
Among them, three people committed suicide, 11 bodies were recovered and rest are still under investigation.
Besides, So far, 48 suspects have been arrested, 15 have surrendered and 18 have given confessional statements, it said.
The police clarified that no communal motive was found behind these killings.
Regarding the 20 cases of rape and sexual assault mentioned at the press conference, police said 16 cases were filed and 25 accused have been arrested.
No complaints were lodged in three cases while the allegations in two incidents in Tanore (Rajshahi) and Magura were found to be unsubstantiated.
The joint press conference also referred to 2,010 incidents of violence between August 4 and 20 last year.
Police reviewed records from 56 districts and confirmed 1,457 of those incidents.
Besides, 62 cases and 951 general diaries (GDs) were filed in connection with these and 35 people were arrested.
Of the 1,769 incidents that occurred on August 5, 2024, 1,234 were identified as stemming from political conflicts, said the statement.
Out of 127 incidents involving puja mandaps and places of worship, 66 cases were filed and 64 individuals were arrested.
Concerning 60 complaints involving theft, idol vandalism, arson, and land grabbing at temples and family shrines, police said 14 cases and five GDs were filed over 20 theft incidents. Eighteen cases were filed for 24 incidents of idol and temple vandalism and 15 were arrested.
No evidence of sabotage was found in four arson cases, and six land-related complaints were not proven to be land grabs.
Incidents like the eviction from railway land in Khilkhet and the vandalism at a cremation ground in Bogura were resolved through administrative intervention.
The Police Headquarters reiterated that law enforcement agencies are taking regular measures to ensure the safety and rights of minority communities and that every allegation is being investigated with due seriousness.
