166 held for Ramu violence

Three cases filed against 1,500 over Patiya violence, 4 upazilas still under Sec 144, Western Marine Shipyard workers on 1-day leave

A statue of Lord Buddha is left standing amidst the ruins of a temple burnt down by a violent mob at Ramu upazila in Cox's Bazar early Sunday. Photo: Focus BanglaStar Online Report

Law enforcers have so far arrested 93 people in Cox's Bazar and 73 in Chittagong till Monday morning centring violence in Ramu that spread to Chittagong later.
Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir on Monday informed journalists about the arrests after inaugurating a training programme at APBn headquarters in the capital.
A mob destroyed 12 Buddhist temples and monasteries and more than 50 houses in Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar early Sunday. The violence was apparently triggered by a Facebook posting of a photo defaming the holy Quran.
A correspondent from Cox's Bazar reports, 80 people have so far been arrested in different places of the district in connection with the violence.
Of the arrestees, 32 were from Ukhia, 22 from Teknaf, 8 from Ramu and 18 from Sadar upazila of Cox’s Bazar, said Babul Akhter, additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Cox’s Bazar.
Police arrested four more in Ramu upazila headquarters of Cox's Bazar Monday noon while they were preparing to stage a protest against the arrests.
Meanwhile, at least 1,500 people were sued in three cases filed with Patiya Police Station on charge of vandalising two monasteries and a Hindu temple, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
Of the three cases, priest Dipananda of Kolagaon Sarbojanin Ratnangkur Buddha Bihar in Patiya lodged one accusing 450 people bringing specific allegation against 25, who were already arrested Saturday night.
The other two cases were filed by Jakir Hossain and Kamal Uddin, both sub-inspectors of Patiya Police Station, accusing 1,500 to 2,000 people. Jakir and Kamal brought specific charges against total 54 accused.
Amid the section 144, the situation is now calm in the areas where the violence occurred. Police, Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guards Bangladesh and army personnel have been posted in the areas.
Meanwhile, the Western Marine Shipyard authorities have declared a one-day leave for Monday following the arrest of 26 of its workers in connection with the violence in Ramu.
“We have put a notice for a day’s leave but did not shut down the yard. We thought this would help us to organise the workers as some people working under a subcontract in the yard were arrested yesterday [Sunday],” reports our Chittagong correspondent quoting Md Shakhawat Hossain, the managing director of Western Marine Shipyard.
“They are not our regular staff,” he added.