USA Africa Dialogue Series - bangladesh story

i think it is instructive that the  latest religious violence, spurred by an image of the qur'an, not pits bangladeshi muslims against hindus and buddhists. recall that 1 million people died in Partition. we are not talking about ages ago, but little more than half a century/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19780692

Bangladesh rampage over Facebook Koran image

Muslim protesters have attacked Buddhist villages in Bangladesh, after an image said to show a burnt Koran was posted on social network site Facebook.

Witnesses said angry crowds set fire to homes and temples in the Cox's Bazar district, forcing families to flee.

A curfew has been imposed and security forces are patrolling the streets.

The man accused of posting the image is in protective custody. Police say he was tagged in the photo but did not post it himself.

'Premeditated communal violence'

Buddhists in the area, in south-east Bangladesh, said their possessions were stolen before their homes were destroyed.

"Before they set fire to my home, they looted everything," said resident Sumoto Barua.

Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir visited the scene and condemned the violence

"They took our possessions, money, gold and even computers. Then they torched the house. I am now living under open sky."

The violence erupted on Saturday and continued into the early hours of Sunday.

Hundreds of protesters are said to have rampaged through Buddhist neighbourhoods, smashing statues, burning down monasteries and attacking houses.

The violence spread to the outskirts of the port city of Chittagong, where a Hindu temple was also attacked.

Bangladeshi Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir visited the scene and described the violence as "premeditated and deliberate acts of communal violence against a minority".

District Commissioner of Cox's Bazar, Jaynul Bari, told the BBC Bengali service the government was already helping the victims.

"We have distributed food rations for them. The army will supply more food," he said.

--   kenneth w. harrow   distinguished professor of english  michigan state university  department of english  619 red cedar road  room C-614 wells hall  east lansing, mi 48824  ph. 517 803 8839  harrow@msu.edu