The traditional Kolpo Jahaj floating festival marking the end of Prabarana Purnima in Ramu, Cox's Bazar, took on a sombre tone yesterday as decorated ships celebrated Buddhist heritage and demanded justice for the 2012 attacks on Buddhist temples and homes.
Held along the Bakkhali River from noon to evening, the centuries-old festival drew thousands. This year, the ships carried messages calling for religious freedom, communal harmony and an end to impunity.
On 29 September 2012, attacks and arson destroyed 12 Buddhist temples and 30 homes in Ramu following a Facebook post falsely attributed to local Buddhist man Uttam Kumar Barua that allegedly depicted the desecration of the Quran. Subsequent investigations found him innocent.
The following day, seven more temples and homes were attacked in Ukhiya, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar Sadar, destroying century-old archaeological artefacts.
Culture Affairs State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam attended as chief guest, Dhaka University emeritus professor and BNP chairman's adviser Sukomal Barua inaugurated the event, and local lawmaker Lutfor Rahman Kajal was chief discussant.
Khaiyam said it was regrettable that justice had not been delivered even after 14 years. He pledged to work with community representatives and the local MP, warning against attempts to divide people in the name of religion and politics.
Kajal alleged that members of the then ruling party were involved in the attacks and innocent people were harassed during the investigation. He called for a fresh probe to identify the actual perpetrators and prevent similar incidents.
"I will formally raise a strong demand for a reinvestigation with the home minister when I go to Dhaka," he said.
Ships carry messages demanding justice
Artisans and young people from seven Buddhist villages – Srikul, Dwip Srikul, Hitupi, Purbo Rajarkul, Hazarikul, Uttar Mithachhari and Paschim Merongloa – spent a month building seven elaborately decorated ships.
Set on platforms made by joining wooden boats, the structures featured decorations of bamboo, wood, cane and colourful paper. Designs included Buddhist monasteries, stupas known locally as jadis, Emperor Ashoka, dragons, peacocks, lions, deer, eagles, mythical winged horses and elephants.
The ships displayed slogans including "Where is the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution?", "The monastery buildings have been rebuilt, but the wounds in our hearts have not healed" and "We want a Bangladesh of harmony, not communal division".
Another marked "14 years of impunity" for the attacks. Images of damaged Buddhist statues from affected temples were also displayed.
Bijoy Barua, general secretary of the Hightupi village Kolpo Jahaj floating committee, told The Business Standard that the tradition commemorates an episode in Vaishali during the Buddha's time.
Invited to help overcome a famine and deliver his teachings, the Buddha was carried across a river on an ornate ship built by the king. The festival is held annually in Ramu the day after Prabarana Purnima.
This year, Hightupi's ship depicted the mythical serpent king shielding the meditating Buddha from rain with its hood. Barua said the tradition had developed through more than a century of cultural ties with Myanmar's Rakhine community.
Himu Barua, general secretary of the Srikul village festival committee, said the ships highlighted the 2012 violence and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Liton Barua, an organiser of Buddhist Social Movement Bangladesh, said all seven villages had participated voluntarily. Calling the continued delay in justice a sign of state indifference, he urged the government to ensure religious freedom and security for every citizen, warning that the case also affected Bangladesh's international image.