Opposition attacked Buddhists: Bangladesh

Merunglua: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is blaming Islamic radicals and opposition activists for attacks over the weekend on minority Buddhists and their temples in southern Bangladesh.

"In primary investigations, we have found that organised radical Islamic groups attacked the houses and places of worship," Home Minister Mohiudddin Khan Alamgir told reporters after a visit to the scene yesterday. "Activists of the opposition parties were also among the attacks."

Alamgir accused local opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker Lutfar Rahman Kajal of instigating the attack, a charge denied by the opposition legislator.

Hundreds of Buddhists fled their southern Bangladesh villages in the wake of attacks by Muslims who burned at least 10 Buddhist temples and 40 homes in anger over a Facebook photo deemed anti-Islam.

PTI