Save minority communities

HC asks govt to ensure adequate security

Staff Correspondent

National Human Rights Commission chief Mizanur Rahman, right, visits Kornai of Dinajpur yesterday to see the atrocities on the Hindus committed right after the January 5 polls. Photo: Star

The High Court has directed the government to immediately provide adequate security to the minority communities and other people vulnerable to post-polls attacks.
The HC directive came yesterday in the wake of attacks on Hindus and people adherent to ruling Awami League across the country surrounding the January 5 elections.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mizanur Rahman and different organisations have demanded justice for the victims of the post-polls attacks.
The home secretary, the inspector general of police, the director general of Rapid Action Battalion and the deputy commissioners of Dhaka, Natore, Jessore, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Satkhira, Jhalakathi, Tangail, Bogra, Pirojpur, Chandpur and Netrokona districts have been made respondents to the suomoto rule of the HC.
"The respondents are directed to take immediate steps to protect life, liberty, property and dignity of the citizens, by deploying forces not only to the specified districts and communities, however [but], all over the country wherever the citizens of the country specially those who are either minority, or are identified as vulnerable group,” the court said in the order.
The court also ordered the IGP to submit a report before it in seven days on what measures have been taken for the protection of the minorities and vulnerable group and what action has so far been taken against the persons who are directly or indirectly responsible for the attacks.
In the rule, the court asked the respondents to explain in two weeks why they should not be directed to take immediate steps by deploying necessary forces to protect the interests of the minority communities and other vulnerable groups of citizens.
The HC also ordered the respondents to explain why the citizens, who were already victimised or have lost life, liberty, dignity and property, should not be compensated.
The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the orders and rule following reports published on the daily Prothom Alo on January 7 and the daily Amader Sh