Three cases were filed against over 4,000 named and unnamed people with three different police stations in Dhaka city over Friday's clashes between police and protesters outraged by the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran at a puja mandap in Cumilla. The three cases were filed by police with Paltan, Ramna and Chawkbazar police stations, with charges including assault on police, obstruction of government work and vandalism. Officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station Md Salauddin Mia said the case filed with his police station accuses 11 people by their names, to go with some 2000-2500 unnamed people. Five arrests have been in connection with this case.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has warned that those involved in the Cumilla incident (desecration of holy Quran) will be brought to justice and no one offender will be spared. “It’s an act of an evil communal force, and those who attack Hindu temples won’t be spared either, even if they belong to any party,” Obaidul Quader said while addressing the Mahastami (8th day) of Durga Puja at KIB premises in the capital on Wednesday evening. He said a united resistance has to be built against those who want to destroy the communal harmony in the country before the national election. Read: “Desecration of holy Quran” in Cumilla, govt urges calm Mentioning that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a unique example of communal harmony in Bangladesh, the AL leader said Durga Puja has become universal as it is being observed in a festive mood across the country. Obaidul Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the Puja is now being celebrated in about 30,000 to 35,000 mandaps across the country and this has caused a heartburn among the evil forces that want to destroy the atmosphere of communal harmony. Obaidul Quader called upon all to remain united and alert so that no one can create chaos or attack any temple.