Court officials have revealed that a key suspect and his accomplice, who allegedly incited the recent violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh, have confessed to their crimes in a pre-trial hearing.

In addition to instigating the recent violence, they have been accused of fanning communal hatred on social media.

On Sunday, Shaikat Mandal admitted to a magistrate that it was his Facebook post that led to the violence on October 17 in Rangpur, Pirganj sub-district during Durga Puja festivities in the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-riots-police-arrest-iqbal-hossain-man-suspected-of-placing-quran-at-durga-puja-pandal-422953">Bangladesh riots: Police arrest Iqbal Hossain, man suspected of placing Quran at Durga Puja Pandal</a>

"Shaikat Mandal and his accomplice Rabiul Isam have admitted their role before a senior judicial magistrate Delwar Hossain in (north-western) Rangpur," the court official told newsmen.

Mandal's accomplice Rabiul Islam, a 36-year-old cleric has been accused of looting and arson.

Police arrested the suspects from Gazipur on Friday as part of a raid and booked them under the Digital Security Act.

Mandal, a philosophy student at Rangpur's Carmichael College was expelled from Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League after being arrested.

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According to a bdnews24.Com report, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) official said that Mandal uploaded objectionable content to Facebook to increase his followers. The official also disclosed that Islam helped Mandal incite Muslims in the village through a loudspeaker announcement on Friday.

According to authorities, the violence was started after a rumour spread in Pirganj that a Hindu man had posted religiously offensive content on Facebook.

So far, seven people have confessed to crimes under pre-trial legal proceedings, and with 683 arrests, more than 70 cases have been filed against 24,000 suspects, most of whom are anonymous, according to reports.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-anti-hindu-violence-man-placing-holy-quran-at-comilla-shrine-identified-as-iqbal-hossain-422522">Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence: Man placing Holy Quran at Comilla shrine identified as Iqbal Hossain</a>

According to RAB officials, other than Mandal and Islam, suspects under arrest include Iqbal Hossain, who allegedly placed a Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla, as well as Fayez Ahmed, who had posted a video of the Quran at the Puja venue.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Is Bangladesh a Secular state?

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Approximately 70 Hindu homes were set on fire during the mayhem that ensued on October 17.

In Bangladesh, a country with a predominantly Muslim population, ten per cent of the 169 million people are Hindu.

(With inputs from agencies)

Court officials have revealed that a key suspect and his accomplice, who allegedly incited the recent violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh, have confessed to their crimes in a pre-trial hearing.

Court officials have revealed that a key suspect and his accomplice, who allegedly incited the recent violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh, have confessed to their crimes in a pre-trial hearing. In addition to instigating the recent violence, they have been accused of fanning communal hatred on social media. On Sunday, Shaikat Mandal admitted to a magistrate that it was his Facebook post that led to the violence on October 17 in Rangpur, Pirganj sub-district during Durga Puja festivities in the country. Also read | Bangladesh riots: Police arrest Iqbal Hossain, man suspected of placing Quran at Durga Puja Pandal "Shaikat Mandal and his accomplice Rabiul Isam have admitted their role before a senior judicial magistrate Delwar Hossain in (north-western) Rangpur," the court official told newsmen. Mandal's accomplice Rabiul Islam, a 36-year-old cleric has been accused of looting and arson. Police arrested the suspects from Gazipur on Friday as part of a raid and booked them under the Digital Security Act. Mandal, a philosophy student at Rangpur's Carmichael College was expelled from Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League after being arrested. Also read | Dhaka to see hunger strike for demands of safety of minorities According to a bdnews24.Com report, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) official said that Mandal uploaded objectionable content to Facebook to increase his followers. The official also disclosed that Islam helped Mandal incite Muslims in the village through a loudspeaker announcement on Friday. According to authorities, the violence was started after a rumour spread in Pirganj that a Hindu man had posted religiously offensive content on Facebook. So far, seven people have confessed to crimes under pre-trial legal proceedings, and with 683 arrests, more than 70 cases have been filed against 24,000 suspects, most of whom are anonymous, according to reports. Also read | Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence: Man placing Holy Quran at Comilla shrine identified as Iqbal Hossain According to RAB officials, other than Mandal and Islam, suspects under arrest include Iqbal Hossain, who allegedly placed a Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla, as well as Fayez Ahmed, who had posted a video of the Quran at the Puja venue. Watch | Gravitas Plus: Is Bangladesh a Secular state? Approximately 70 Hindu homes were set on fire during the mayhem that ensued on October 17. In Bangladesh, a country with a predominantly Muslim population, ten per cent of the 169 million people are Hindu. (With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh violence: Prime suspect, accomplice confess to instigating communal violence against Hindus

Bangladesh State Minister for Information Murad Hassan has stated that Bangladesh is a secular country that would revert to the 1972 constitution proposed by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh cannot be a haven for religious fundamentalists.

The state minister said, ‘We have the blood of freedom fighters in our body. At any cost, we have to go back to the constitution of '72. I will speak in Parliament to go back to the constitution that Bangabandhu went through. Even if no one speaks, Murad will speak in Parliament.' 
 
Watch | Gravitas | Bangladesh riots: Jamaat-E-Islami behind attacks on Hindus tag Sheikh Hasina, Bdesh govt

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The state minister made the remarks while speaking at the Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium on the occasion of the 57th birth anniversary of Sheikh Russell, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.&nbsp;

He stated, "I do not think that Islam is our state religion. We'll go back to the constitution of 1972. We'll get that bill enacted in parliament under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership." 
 
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hours-after-pms-warning-iskcon-temple-vandalised-in-bangladesh-421103">Hours after PM's warning, ISKCON temple vandalised in Bangladesh</a>

"We'll soon return to the 1972 secular constitution issued by Bangladesh's founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, following independence."

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"This is a non-communal Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a secular country. Everyone will practise their faith here."

He slammed former military rulers Hussain Muhammad Ershad and Ziaur Rahman for integrating Islam as the official religion into the constitution, and he slammed the BNP-Jamaat for inciting violence and dividing the country in the name of religion.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh State Minister for Information Murad Hassan has stated that Bangladesh is a secular country that would revert to the 1972 constitution proposed by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh State Minister for Information Murad Hassan has stated that Bangladesh is a secular country that would revert to the 1972 constitution proposed by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh cannot be a haven for religious fundamentalists. The state minister said, ‘We have the blood of freedom fighters in our body. At any cost, we have to go back to the constitution of '72. I will speak in Parliament to go back to the constitution that Bangabandhu went through. Even if no one speaks, Murad will speak in Parliament.' Watch | Gravitas | Bangladesh riots: Jamaat-E-Islami behind attacks on Hindus tag Sheikh Hasina, Bdesh govt The state minister made the remarks while speaking at the Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium on the occasion of the 57th birth anniversary of Sheikh Russell, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He stated, "I do not think that Islam is our state religion. We'll go back to the constitution of 1972. We'll get that bill enacted in parliament under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership." Also Read | Hours after PM's warning, ISKCON temple vandalised in Bangladesh "We'll soon return to the 1972 secular constitution issued by Bangladesh's founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, following independence." × "This is a non-communal Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a secular country. Everyone will practise their faith here." He slammed former military rulers Hussain Muhammad Ershad and Ziaur Rahman for integrating Islam as the official religion into the constitution, and he slammed the BNP-Jamaat for inciting violence and dividing the country in the name of religion. (With inputs from agencies)

Islam is not our state religion, will revert to 1972 constitution: Bangladesh Minister after attack on Hindus

India has taken cognisance of the deadly durga puja violence in neighbouring Bangladesh. At least three people have been killed in riots during the Hindu festival. Situation remains tense. Over 40 people have been arrested. Bangladesh has deployed its border guards to 22 districts.

Over 40 people arrested over durga puja violence in Bangladesh