Hindu district commissioner in Bangladesh faces abuse, threats after cancelling Jamaat candidate’s nomination
PTC Web Desk: A Hindu district commissioner in Bangladesh has come under communal abuse and threats after cancelling the nomination of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate ahead of the upcoming general elections scheduled for next month. The incident took place in the Kurigram-3 constituency, where District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath rejected the nomination of Jamaat candidate Barrister Salehi.
The nomination was cancelled over allegations that the candidate holds dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, which is not allowed under election rules.
Following the decision, supporters of the Jamaat candidate staged a protest at the district office. Videos from inside the nomination centre showed chaos as she announced the cancellation. Supporters were seen shouting slogans and disrupting official proceedings inside the hall.
During the protest, demonstrators allegedly used communal slurs against the district commissioner and demanded her resignation. Some protesters were heard shouting that she should not be allowed to remain in the district.
The protesters also accused Annapurna Debnath of being associated with ISKCON and called her a “broker of the Awami League and India,” further escalating tensions.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, especially those holding administrative positions during sensitive periods like elections.
In recent weeks, several violent incidents involving members of the Hindu community have been reported across Bangladesh. On Sunday, the police arrested three persons in connection with the killing of Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das in Shariatpur district. He was allegedly beaten, stabbed and set on fire by a mob on New Year’s Eve and later died during treatment in Dhaka.
Last month, a garment worker, Dipu Chandra Das, was beaten to death by a mob in Mymensingh over allegations of blasphemy. In another incident, Amrit Mondal was lynched in Rajbari following an alleged extortion dispute.
In yet another case, Bajendra Biswas, a Hindu security guard, was shot dead while on duty at a garment factory in Mymensingh.
These incidents have raised serious concerns about the growing violence against minorities in the country.
- With inputs from agencies
