Prof. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, visiting Orphanage in Faridpur.
NHRC summoned the UNO to appear before the Commission, in Dhaka, and explain
his action. The UNO regretted his action
and promised to be more cautious and sensitive in like situations in the future. The
commission reprimanded the officer and
recommended the Ministry of Public Administration to take necessary actions.
Greed versus Communal Harmony
A complaint was lodged with the NHRC by a
local NGO in Rangamati that Bengali Settlers had demolished the Buddist Vabna
Kendra (Old age Training Centre) located at
Kilachori of Rangamati. Day before the demolition taken place, a Bengali Social Forestry Farmer was murdered. Tension was
high, almost on the brink of explosion
threatening the communal harmony between the Bangali Settlers and the local inhabitants. The NHRC instantly dispatched
its investigation team to defuse the existing
tension and bring about a peaceful solu-
32
tion. The NHRC team found the root cause
of all the troubles was the greed of local
Headman in collusion a few Settlers to grab
the land used for social forestry and gradually extend its claws over the land on which
Vabna Kendra was situated. The NHRC identified the individuals responsible for demolition of the Vabna Kendra as well as death
of the Bangali setter and made recommendations to the concerned authority of the
Government to take necessary legal action.
The Ramu Tragedy
The incidence of Ramu is one of the most
tragic incidents in the recent social history
of Bangladesh. As many as 12 Buddhist temples were burnt, damaged and 30 houses
owned by Buddhist minorities were set
ablaze during communal violence that took
place in September 2012. A series of attacks took place in three adjacent Upazilas
namely, Ramu, Teknaf and Ukhia.