Dhaka, Feb 9 (IANS) A Bangladesh court Sunday directed the government to compensate the Pabna district Hindu families who were attacked over a Facebook post that allegedly demeaned Prophet Muhammad in November 2013.
The government was asked to compensate a total of 33 families within three weeks in Santhia area of the Pabna district, the Daily Star reported.
The government would have to pay Tk 43.42 million in compensation as calculated by an investigation committee, said Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Roy.
Rioters vandalised 29 houses, 10 business establishments and seven temples at Bonogram Bazaar in the district Nov 2, 2013, saying a Hindu boy from the area allegedly maligned Prophet Muhammad on a Facebook page, said Roy.
While suo moto taking up the incident, a high court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and A.B.M. Altaf Hossain also directed police to arrest those responsible for the attacks.
Following the high court order Nov 3, 2013, the government formed a probe committee to assess the damage caused by the attackers, said the deputy attorney general.
The committee submitted its assessment report to the court last week, Roy said.