On the afternoon of December 21, for an investigative report in Amar Desh Patrika, I set off on a motorcycle with a colleague for Bhimruli, one of the most famous villages among the 36 villages.
The motorcycle continued along the narrow road. There was a canal on one side of the road and rows of trees on both sides. It was a beautiful scene in the late afternoon. On the way, we stopped at a tea shop to have tea. The shop is adjacent to the Shiva temple in Khajura village of Krittipasha Union. The shop is called Sanjay Store, and the owner is Sanjay Haldar. While having tea, I asked him, ‘Dada, how are you after August 5? Without wasting time, a straightforward answer, I am fine, Dada. I am better and safer than ever.’ When asked how Durga Puja was this time, Sanjay said, Durga Utsav was held peacefully in my village and 36 neighboring villages.
After having tea, I went to the traditional Shiva temple in front of the shop. Sagar Mitra, the general secretary of the temple committee, told Amar Desh that after August 5, there has been no looting or rioting in any of the 36 minority-dominated villages. They are safely observing religious programs. However, they were afraid at first because of the Indian media reports, but now that fear is gone.
After talking to Sagar Mitra, I started my motorcycle again and set off towards Bhimruli. After walking three to four kilometers from there, I got off at Bhimruli Hat. Here is one of the famous floating hats in the country. It can also be called a small tourist spot.
There is a large temple in Bhimruli. The biggest Durga Puja is held in this temple in Jhalakathi. I spoke to Bhaben Haldar, the leader of the temple committee and former chairman of this union, at the temple.
He told my country, we are in a peaceful situation here. Our traders are doing business here without any kind of extortion. There is no communal threat in Bhimruli and the surrounding villages.
During our stay in Bhimruli Bazar, many journalists came and talked to us, they considered the exaggerated news of the Indian media as an incitement to destroy communal harmony in this country. They also demanded that such propaganda be stopped.
As we talked, evening approached. Next to Bhimruli Bazar, there is a large house inhabited by the traditional community. This house, known as Majherbari, has 25-26 rooms. Looking at the houses, it seemed that everyone here belongs to a respectable family.
In the afternoon, small children were seen playing in the courtyard of this house. Whenever there is a change in the country, the residents of this house are in panic. Even after the UP election results, they are in panic. But this time the scenario was completely different. They thought that since there was a mass uprising against the Awami League, the Awami League voters thought that they might be attacked. But their fears were proven false. My country's correspondent spoke to some senior citizens in this house.
They said that at first we were scared, but nothing happened. Now we are safe and well. They expressed surprise at the false stories of Hindu persecution being spread in various foreign media.
After leaving Majherbari, I went straight to Jhalakathi town. I thought that this time I needed to know the situation of the entire district. I contacted the city's Fire Service intersection by phone and went to the Akhrabari temple. I spoke to Advocate Nirmal Chandra De Tarani, president of the Jhalakathi district branch of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council.
He told Amar Desh that this time Durga Puja was very peaceful and no untoward incident took place anywhere in the district. There was no incident of communal violence in the district. We are better than ever.
When the attention of the Indian media was drawn to the recent news of minority oppression in the country, this leader of the Hindu community told Amar Desh that we strongly condemn and protest against the media which is publishing exaggerated news of Hindu oppression.
It is to be noted that no incident of minority oppression has taken place in Jhalakati district since August 5. Two-three isolated incidents have occurred mainly due to political and land disputes, and legal action has already been taken by the administration in this regard.
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