37.
The Commission recommends that the government intensify its efforts to eradicate
child marriage and bring those to justice who perform or facilitate child marriage. The
Commission further recommends that victims of child marriage have access to effective legal
remedies and all other forms of necessary support and protection. Finally, the government
should continue its efforts to raise public awareness of the lifelong negative consequences of
child marriage on girls and women.
Violence against Religious Minorities
38.
The Commission took note of incidents of violence at different scales against
religious minorities in Bangladesh from 2018 to 2023. The primary victims were Hindus,
Christians, Buddhists and Ahmadiyya community. The notable incidents of violence against
religious minorities include the 2019 violence against Ahmadiyya in Panchagarh, the 2020
Bhola incident, the 2021 violence against Hindus in Rupsha (Khulna), the 2022 violence
against Hindus in Sahapara (Norail), the 2022 violence in Majhipara, Peerganj, Rangpur, and
2023 violence against Ahmadiyya in Panchagarh.
39.
Recently, it has been alleged that a few Muslim religious speakers spread hatred
taking advantages of religious preaching exceeding the standard of freedom of speech. In
2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a report containing six recommendations and
identified fifteen Islamic scholars whose sermons allegedly encourage communalism,
militancy, and intolerance against women’s emancipation.11 However, no follow-up was
made public.
40.
Individual complaints regarding violence against minorities received by the
Commission during 2018-2022 are as follows:
Types of
Complaints
Received
Violence against
Minorities
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
09
09
01
02
00
41.
The Commission, either suo motu or on the basis of complaint investigated these
incidents and makes the following recommendations to the government:
•
Protecting the safety and security of persons belonging to minority religious groups
and ensuring their ability to fully enjoy their freedom of religion and to worship
without fear of attack;
•
Establishing a Special Tribunal to ensure speedy trial of all the allegations of violence
against minorities;
•
Compensating the persons whose life and property have been affected due to
communal riots;
•
Initiating a departmental inquiry regarding the failure of intelligence and delay of
deployment of adequate members of law enforcement agencies;
11
15 Named for Fanning Communal Tension, Militancy thru Waz, The Daily Observer, 07 April 2019, available
at <https://www.observerbd.com/news.php?id=192164>accessed 4 April 2023.
11