Key suspect behind Bangladesh violence held

Dhaka, October 22

A 35-year-old Bangladeshi man, the key suspect arrested overnight in connection with a slew of violence against Hindus and mob attacks on temples in the country during Durga Puja festivities, would be interrogated by security agencies, the police said on Friday.

Six Rohingya die in group clash

Two groups of Rohingya refugees clashed on Friday at a camp in southern Bangladesh, leaving at least six dead and 10 others injured, the police said. The violence broke out in Cox’s Bazar district, when one side opened fire, killing four persons at the scene. It was not clear why the violence broke out, but local media said the two sides were feuding to establish supremacy in the camp over an illegal drug business. PTI

Iqbal Hossain was arrested from Cox's Bazar sea beach area on Thursday night after a massive hunt and is suspected to be the one who placed a copy of the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla, some 100 km southeast of Dhaka.

Attacks on Hindu temples are being reported in Bangladesh since last Wednesday after an alleged blasphemous post surfaced on social media during the Durga Puja celebrations. On late Sunday night, a mob damaged 66 houses and set on fire at least 20 homes of Hindus in Bangladesh.

“We have arrested (eastern) Cumilla's Iqbal Hossain, who is the key suspect of the widespread communal unrest, from the Cox's Bazar beach,” a police headquarters spokesman said.

He added the police and other security and intelligence agencies would now interrogate Hossain, whom the police earlier described as a “vagabond”. TV footage showed Hossain was brought under heavy security escorts from Cox's Bazar to Cumilla by road while officials said after initial interrogation he would be produced before a court seeking him to be placed under police remand for next several days. — PTI