An elderly Syrian woman, who fled her home due to fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces, reads the Quran, Muslim's holy book, as she takes refuge at the Samiya al-Makhzumi school in Mezzeh neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Many Syrians who have fled violence in their country are living near the border but outside the dozen camps, either staying with relatives, renting apartments, and in some cases take refuge at schools. The influx since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad began 18 months ago has raised concerns about sectarian tension and militant activity in the region. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)
The violence began late Saturday and continued until early Sunday, said Nojibul Islam, a police chief in the coastal district of Cox's Bazar.
He said the situation was under control Sunday afternoon after extra security officials were deployed and the government banned public gatherings in the troubled area.
He said at least 20 people were injured in the attacks that followed the posting of a Facebook photo of a burned copy of the Quran. The rioters blamed the photo on a local Buddhist boy, though it was not immediately clear if the boy actually posted the photo.
Bangladesh's popular English-language Daily Star newspaper quoted the boy as saying that the photo was mistakenly tagged on his Facebook profile. The newspaper reported that soon after the violence broke out, the boy's Facebook account was closed and police escorted him and his mother to safety.
Joinul Bari, chief government administrator in Cox's Bazar district, said authorities detained the boy's parents and were investigating.
Buddhists make up less than 1 percent of Muslim-majority Bangladesh's 150 million people.
Post a Comment