Barbarism in Banshkhali

We would like to note the commendable reaction of the government to news of this atrocity. The prime minister sent condolences from Saudi Arabia where she is performing umra and the home minister helicoptered to the site to oversee the police investigation.

But protestations of shock and horror cannot be the extent of the government's response. It should be noted that an almost identical outrage was perpetrated in Banshkhali in May and one in Patiya in August. Claims that law and order are a top priority are ultimately unconvincing if such atrocities continue unchecked.

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The question we would like the authorities to answer is what protection is there for rural families such as the one victimised in Banshkhali. After all, merely catching the perpetrators offers no comfort to those who have lost their lives and the authorities must ensure that crimes such as these do not occur in the first place.

The fact that the house was set on fire so soon after the robbers arrived indicates that perhaps robbery was not the sole motive, and it remains unclear whether the robbers arrived with incendiary materials or not. The police have been quick to announce that robbery was the only motive, but it seems appropriate to ask whether this issue has been sufficiently investigated and why the rush to such a premature conclusion.

It is still too early to come to any definite conclusion as to the motive behind the crime and the perpetrators and there are clearly many questions that need to be answered. We urge the authorities to take every possible step to get to the bottom of this outrage and leave no stone unturned in their investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.