Combatting unjust racism : how fake rumours affect indigenous communities in Bangladesh

In recent times, news became viral regarding the murder of a college student Sibley Aiman Sadik whose dismembered body was found in a remote hilly area of Doluchori at 9:30 am on Kodolpur-Ranguniaborder. The primary suspect, Umongching Marma was beaten up by the local Bengali population after snatching him from police custody, resulting in his death. However, surrounding the event, many belligerents intentionally spread a rumor regarding cannibalism by inserting false images of dried-up bones belonging to an unidentified man for the purpose of causing communal riots. Even though the actual body was recovered 13 days later, rumors still remained persistent. On 3 August 2013, Bengali settlers conducted communal attacks in Matiranga, Khagrachari by burning down houses. This attack was also on the basis of a rumour that a motorbiker Md Kamal Hossain was murdered by the ethnic minority. Even going back further, innocent Jumma people were murdered in 1992 during the Logang Massacre due to the alleged murders of 5 Bengalis. Even though it would have been discarded as a general murder case, the incident was made viral simply due to the fact it was committed by members of the Marma community. Not even Chakma, Tripura, and other distinct minorities were spared from this unjust generalization. Adding to the fact of preexisting racist stereotypes, more people believed in the story. Targeted hatred towards minorities has always put them on marginalization. As hatred towards minorities continues to rise, there is a high risk for communal violence to occur in the near future. We do not condone the murder of an innocent person however bringing ethnic identity to the murder case in order to exacerbate hatred and committing vigilante justice will never bring progress and prosperity to the society. Creating awareness against false rumors will ensure no such incident will ever take place in the near future.