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HR 205: Written evidence submitted by Sujit Sen, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council
Bangladesh minorities are a complex composite consisting of religious, ethnic-cultural, linguistic and sectarian components. Hindus form the largest group among the minority communities. Culturally and educationally, having highest literacy, it is a most advanced and dominant community not only among the minorities but also among the majorities. If given impartial and equal exposure the community could fight for its right on equal footing with the majority community. It does not require any special protection or treatment from the government. What it asks for is the equal rights, treatment from the state, government and law, which only could be guaranteed under a secular state under a secular constitution.
The repression and persecution on minorities and as a result their misery and plight continues unabated since 2001, although its nature has visible changed, and its ferocity and dimension have been diminished. The present nature of persecution on the minorities may be described as follows:
1. Grabbing of individual minority properties by interested individual or groups by force and threat. 2. Eviction of large scale poor minority families living in a village, over a khash lands living there from generation to generation, sometimes in the name of development. 3. Eviction of Adibashis from their ancestral lands or forests in the name of making 'Avayaranya' (place of sanctuary), tourist resorts, place of holidaying. 4. Rape and sexual violation of women belonging to minority communities. Ill treatment meted with young tribal girls and women. 5. Constant threat to minority communities. 6. Places of worships are violated and sanctity of the temples, churches, mosques of Ahmeddiya.
Bangladesh govt should address the following for the safety of religious minorities.
· Repeal of the 5th and 8th amendment of BD constitution, which had added Islamic flavour to it, so that a secular democratic republic could be established. · Holding a free and fair election in which minorities could take part freely and fearlessly. · Equal rights and proportionate representation in all spheres of life, such as national parliament, ministry, government and autonomous bodies, and defence etc. must be guaranteed. At present it is alleged that minorities are being denied in all sphere of life particularly in the government recruitments they are proportionately represented. Representation in defence service is insignificantly poor. · Implementation of Chittagong Hill Tract Accord. · Protection of the minorities and formation Minorities Rights Commission. · The government and political parties must reached an agreement not to intimidate or harass the religious minorities.
The large-scale persecution and violence against minorities sprang directly from "the policy of communalism followed by the government and Islamization of BD constitution." The extremists usually get the support of government machineries locally as well as centrally. It also demanded for safe return of 10 million Hindus who fled from BD to take shelter in India at various time for various reasons.
The west has a significant role to play. The human rights organizations, European Commission, with its human rights wings, the most important - the organized secularist force of the west could and must exert on the present Bangladesh Government to stop all kinds of persecution on minorities, enact appropriate laws in the parliament to safeguard the rights and privileges of the minorities and improve the fate of the backward communities known as 'Adibashis' and above all restoration of secular character of the BD constitution, and lastly but not the least constitution of a truly independent but powerful human rights commission, with special reference to minorities, women, Adibashis and children rights, free from control of the government and parties sharing state powers. The secular and liberal forces of the west can share and cooperate with the secular forces of Bangladesh in an effective manner. A mechanism has to be developed through mutual dialogue.
15 December 2009 |