After sending his children away for their safety, Douglas Andrew Rodrigues reported the situation live on Facebook. However, the intimidation against him continues.
Chattogram (AsiaNews) – Members of a Christian family in Lakhan Bazar were forced to leave their home due to harassment and intimidation by a Muslim who wants to take their land.
A few days ago, Douglas Andrew Rodrigues complained about it live broadcast on Facebook, accusing a local Muslim, Zakir Hossain, of continuing to threaten him.
“We face a lot of problems just because we are a religious minority,” Rodrigues said. “I continue to receive death threats from people who want to take my land," he added.
As a result, the Christian man sent his children away for their safety. "Where will we go? I would like to live in peace here in our home.”
Zakir Hossain is a very influential person in the area. Rodrigues said he asked his neighbours for a hand, but no one has helped him and his family.
“Tell us to leave and we will leave. We are unable to tolerate this persecution in a dispute over the land," said the Christian live on Facebook. “My family members would rather poison themselves than live like this.”
Today Douglas went to buy some lemons and people loyal to Zakir Hossain once again ordered him to leave the land. “Now I'm afraid to go out. They can do anything.”
Douglas's father Arnold Rodrigues bought the land where his son now lives in 1974. Zakir Hossain, however, claims to have bought the same land in 1997. Both have filed a lawsuit in court to settle the matter.
"We ask the authorities to undertake an investigation and appropriate action so that Douglas Andrew Rodrigues can live in peace in his home,” said Nirmol Rozario, president of the Bangladesh Christian Association, speaking to AsiaNews.”
“We are concerned about the safety of Douglas Andrew Rodrigues and his family,” he added.
In Bangladesh, where 90 per cent of the population is Muslim, Christians are often persecuted because of their religious faith.