Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh led the arson attacks on Hindu homes in Rangpur on Friday, say police.
Jamaat committed the act to create chaos as elections are nearing, said Rangpur Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman after inspecting the scene on Saturday.
“The individual killed in the clash with police and most of those detained over the violence are local Jamaat activists,” he said.
A mob attacked and set fire to Hindu homes in Rangpur on Friday, alleging a local Hindu man had made a Facebook post ‘insulting religion’.
One person was killed after police clashed with the attackers.
A bdnews24.com reports says that kotowali Police Station OC Babul Miah claims local BNP leaders were also among the attackers.
Police deployed in the troubled area identified the attackers, Rahman said.
“Sadar Upazila Ulema Dal Convener Enamul Haque Majid, local BNP leader Masud Rana and Sholowasha Jamme Mosque Imam Shirajul Islam were seen leading the attacks.”
Police raided their homes on Friday night, but they had already fled, the OC said.
No mercy would be shown to those who would try to disrupt communal harmony, said Awami League Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
On Oct 29, Lalchadar Village Grocer Alamgir Hossain filed a case against a local Hindu man claiming he had insulted religion in a Facebook post.
Last Tuesday a few hundred people joined a protest demanding the arrest of the accused. Another protest was held three days later.
Protesters gave the superintendent of police 24 hours to arrest the accused. They led another protest march on Friday after no arrests were made.
At least 8,000 people, mostly armed, were involved in the protests on Friday when they clashed with police. The homes of several Hindu families were set on fire during the clashes.
One person, 30-year-old Habibur Rahman, was killed in the clash. Seven police personnel were injured by sticks and brickbats.
Two cases have been filed over the incident. Police have arrested 53 in connection with the cases.