শ্রী শিবশংকর চক্রবতী

It’s totally different from my country. Here are no so many people, no traffic jam, no chaos and may be no corruption! Peoples seem to be helpful (NB: weather is hostile!) and busy in their own business. No one is interfering others. Things are all arranged and seem to be in a good order. They are so upgraded that they speak of animal welfare meaning a strong voice for the human rights, human welfare. This is really praiseworthy. But what about me?

As I mentioned earlier, I am from the minority Hindu religious people of Bangladesh. I know it very well what does it actually mean being a minor Hindu in Bangladesh. But I don’t know what it means to a Muslim in India or to a tamil in Srilanka or the same in others countries. In my village we are about 500 Hindus living as a cluster surrounded by Muslims. When I understood for the first time that I am a Hindu, I also understood that I am weak. I cannot protest someone from Muslim community if he robs mangoes from our trees, fish from our ponds. If I do it I can be beated and may be no fruitful trial for that. I was learning how to be adapted with all this from that age. I always tried to get a Muslim friend to possess some power so that no another Muslim can beat me. Sometimes I was successful!

To be continued……….

It is unfortunate that the “Mother” is subject to slaughter. Cow slaughter is common throughout Bangladesh. It also takes place in India but the sheer scale of it in Bangladesh is incomparable .Beef consumption is a routine in Bangladesh.

Cow slaughter ( or indeed , slaughter of any living being ) is a disturbing sight. Walk out on the streets of Dhaka on Eid-al-Adha and one cannot avoid setting eyes on countless cows and other animals being slaughtered mercilessly. Our muslim bretheren must have some consideration for the feelings of us Hindus before they embark on such slaughters.

Hindus must also do more to protect the cow. It is after all a symbol of our faith. It is our mother. We must be aggressive. Our charities must open more cow sheds in Bangladesh. We must speak up against cow slaughter. Our aim is to live peacefully in Bangladesh and practice our religion freely- without harming anyone. It is not too much to ask, is it?

It is very disturbing that cow slaughter is getting increasing acceptance even in predominantly Hindu belts. How can the sentiments of Hindus be ignored so blatantly? Are we not a part of this great nation? The government too must do something about cow slaughter. The cow must be given special status. Hindus must agitate for it. With the fate of the cow, is linked the fate of Hindus in Bangladesh. If the cows perish, we too will. Cow slaughter must stop.

The Bengali New Year just went by. It is 1417 Bongabdo now. Wishing all the Bengalis Shubha Nabobarsho! Hope this brings you all prosperity and health!

Today’s topic is Bengali and the Bengali language. Recently I came across a news article in www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com about Bengali being selected as the sweetest language of the world. (Find the article here) We always knew this, that after one of those European languages (may be Spanish) Bengali was the sweetest language of the world and one of the most spoken language too. I am proud to be a Bengali and this is one more reason to be so. I can read, write and speak in Bengali and that is an achievement in any human being’s life. I was blessed to have born in a Bengali family and hence, I did not have to toil that hard to learn Bengali. I wish people reading me, who cannot read Bengali would learn this someday and would be able to explore the treasure we have in our Bangla literature! Oh, such a great feeling to be able to address Bangla as my own! I was telling the other day to one of my friends in office, that there is so much in Bengali and its literature that it is not possible for someone mortal to read and learn everything that is in there. And that my wife could go on and on and on talking about Bengali, Bengali literature, Bengali people and Bengali land – we are so proud Bengalis!

That’s it!

I am a Bengali and let me be a Bengali and let me take pride in the same.

But that would not be the end of all of it. People in India speak so many different languages and everyone is proud of their own languages. Till this point everything is fine! But no! People will not just stop there. They will go much ahead of this and start comparing their language to their neighbors’.  They will start comparing the languages and cross the limit and call names of the other language and the people speaking that. This is what the majority of Indians do at present. We discriminate fellow Indians on basis of their language, cast, creed, religion and color. We have seen it, felt it, talked about it and have kept quiet. I mean, we never had anything to do against or for this. We don’t take any steps ourselves. We keep mum and we condole ourselves.

I am staying away from home for last 12 years and I have seen it everywhere I went – be it Assam, Tamil Nadu or Karnataka; be it in street, shop, bus and auto or in office! Where are we heading towards? Are we a country of educated people? Well, if this is what education teaches us, we should go back to the jungles and start dwelling in caves. There is no tolerance, no brotherhood, no serenity and no forbearance in any of us! And we call ourselves educated, civilized and healthy human beings and citizens of a developing country – a republic, a democratic and a sovereign nation! Does anyone know the meaning of these words? LOL!

It’s time we rise and stand against this and pull those despotic nincompoops by their ears and teach them that this is a country of many people and all of those have the right to go anywhere they want; do anything they want; talk any language they want; practice any religion they want. And not only this, the citizens of India are free to eat at any restaurant; wear any underwear they want; sneeze as many times they would like to; watch any movie at any theatre.

If you have got a problem, just leave!

Grow up people and act as if you are civilized, even if you are not

The picture is a cover of a book written on Indian Languages. I just loved the cover and wanted to post it here. Taken from here.

Here are some specific examples from the life of Kalki Avatar that obviously show Mohammad cannot be possibly the long awaited avatar. Thanks to Rabindro Nath Roy for presenting this in a fluent manner.

1) kalki’s birthplace:

village: shamval
dist: moradabad
location: on the narmada river
state: orissa

2) parents:

father’s name: vishnuyasha
mother’s name: sumati
caste: brahamana

3) remarkable:

at birth parasuram, kup, vyas, ashthvama and others meet him in the guise of young sanyasins.

4) brothers and sisters:

a) brothers:

1) kavi
2) prajna (pragya)
3) sumantak

b) sisters:

none

5) order among the brothers:

fourth

6) the then king:

king vishakhayup

7) education:

from: gurukula
place: the mountain of mahendra (orissa)
subjects: vedas, archery and armor
teacher: parasuram

8. meditation and blessings of lord shiva:

meditates on lord shiva and he blesses him with a fast-riding horse, which can understand his intention and take him there.

shiva also gives him a ‘shuka’ bird who is a ‘pundit’ and will help him.

he gives kalki a sword which will be so powerful nothing can withstand.

9) friends:

garga, varga, bishal

10) marriage:

with princess padmavati of sinhala

now the question arise:

did mohammed marry a princess?
were mohammed’s parents brahamanas?
did mahammed have 3 elder brothers?
did mohammed learn the vedas from parasurama?
did mohammed come to preach and establish the vedas?
did he have those friends and brothers?
did he worship lord shiva?
did those sanyasins meet him at birth?

11) and why did kalki avatara come?

to establish the vedas which existed before him. mohammed came to cancel all the books that came before him and to establish the koran. i wonder what are some people getting at!

Rabindra da continues vibrating what I mentioned, “i shall not make any comment on the bhavishya purana as mohammed fits to be a demon there and islam a demonic faith. it is really sad that muslims themselves are degrading and defaming their faith. it is only god who knows what he has set these preachers of islam to.”

Some helpful resources: http://bhavishyapuran.blogspot.com/

Ruin of 200-year-old Hindu Mandir

On 10th February a midnight a heavy loaded truck suddenly heat the boundary of the 200 years old Barthi Tara Kali Mondir in Gouranadi, in this accident a notable portion of this historic Hindu temple was demolished said the secretary of the temple, Babu Datta

He added that the Dhaka metor Da-11-1896 suddenly heat the boundary of the holy temple and demolished the historic temple, the local highly police came and took the truck after four hours

The local Hindu devote expressed their great shock on this accident, some people shared this may be a planned attack on the temple

William Nicholas Gomes is a human rights activist and freelance journalist. He can be reached at E-mail:cda.exe@gmail.com.

Rubi Villa is a name of an old house. Professor Amiretus of Rajshahi University Arun Basak is the owner of this house. It’s situated of the middle of Rajshahi city near Boalia police station.

Dr Arun Basak, a retired professor of Physics of the University of Rajshahi, has been subjected to cynical harassment and mental torture, inflicted by the Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) in league with a powerful vested interest of the locality. Appealing against this overbalance, Mrs. Devika Basak, wife of Professor Basak has made a written prayer on 24 January of 2007 to the Honorable President of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh.

Professor Basak bought an old dilapidated house in the Sagarpara area of the city for residential purposes and registered it in the name of his wife in 1985. He renovated the house with minor adjustments to settle there. The roofed staircase was reconstructed with no new house-construction or wall. The RDA served a show cause notice on Mrs Basak on 10 January, 1987, charging her with the offence of unauthorized house-building without a prior permission from their office. Mrs. Basak sent a reply to the notice on 15 January of that year. In it she explained that the staircase was built only with cooperation, counseling and goodwill of the neighbors. There was no objection from any of the neighbors. In reply to the notice, Mrs Basak also submitted that they did not have any prior knowledge that the renovation of a staircase matching an old house required a formal approval of the RDA, and hence she prayed for a formal sanction of the work which had been done in a good faith. In addition, she pledged that she would be obliged to pull down the reconstructed staircase if in the future that becomes a necessity in the interest of the RDA. In response to the submission of Mrs Devika Basak, the report observes, the Authorized Officer of RDA after a long silence of six years informed her in a letter of 29 October, 1993 that the charge leveled against her had been provisionally withdrawn, and in consequence of that the Basak family settled down in that house without any further trouble.

But, as stated in the aforesaid petition to the Honorable President, a new crisis developed for them in 2003, when an additional construction was started on the southern side of their house by their adjacent neighbor showing total disregard for the rules of house-building in an urban locality. This erection came within a mere 9 (nine) inch distance from the residential room of the very old house, that Professor Basak had bought for this wife and since been living in with his other members of his family, by the scheming neighbor Mr. I. Y. Ferdous. The overbearing Mr Ferdous left even no cornice gap at the roof-top. The mandatory restriction of a gap of at least 4 (four) feet from the boundary imposed by the RDA was blatantly flouted by Mr. Ferdous. Mrs Basak entreated with Mr. Ferdous to desist from the unlawful and heinous act. But Mr. Ferdous not only threw aside but also threatened highly respected Dr. Basak with a dire consequence in case the Basak family dared to interfere with the evil designs of Ferdous. The matter was brought to the notice of the local ward Commissioner, Mr. Abdul Hamid Sarkar Tekon. But he took no corrective measure even after his high promise to the Basak family. Once the said Ferdous had completed the construction of the second floor of his venture, some BNP leaders of the then ruling party intervened and endorsed a formal complain regarding the matter to the RDA authority.

The RDA authority, after serving two consecutive notices on both Ferdous and Devika Basak, started putting pressure on Dr. Basak to agree to a compromise with Ferdous even while he was executing uninterrupted his ulterior design. Scientist Basak told the investing team of the TFT that two buildings almost locked side by side and stops cross ventilation of air leading ultimately to the development of a hazardous level of radioactive radon gas naturally emanated from the concrete materials, which is one of the principal causes of lung-cancer. This house-related disturbance and thrust on him through the machinations of his recalcitrant neighbor are destroying his peace of mind and he can no longer adequately concentrate on his research works, he lamented.

The RDA authority constituted an inquiry committee formed with the ward commissioner Abdul Hamid Sarkar Tekon (who failed to stop Ferdous from his heinous designs at the beginning of the illegal construction on 9 March, 2006 to look specifically into the matter. But the report of the committee has not yet seen the light of the day. And Mr. Ferdous is an influential who is much closed with the Mayor of Rajshahi city AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.

Professor Arun Basak told, we are under big trouble. Our nighbour has built a new building violating the rule of RDA and occupied our land. But, both of two buildings have no gaped. So, our building now is not able to use. We went to many places for solve this problem. But, we were failed. We went to local ward commissioner and to the authority of RDA. But, oppressing has started on us. It is unfortunate that RDA was given us notice as we are guilty. By that way they wanted to minimize to this problem. My wife was wrote an application to the President in the regime of caretaker government. After then RDA has try to compromise. In the mean time, the opponent was filed an injunction case in the Judge court. On the other hand, opponent made a false allegation against us to the Waqfo estate that we were occupied their three feet land. From Waqfo we were received a notice. We answered to them by our lawyer. Then a measurement was completed by the ADC revenue. By that measurement it was proved that the complainant was occupied our land. Still haven’t taken any action against him (nighbour and opponent). Still a case has been running in the court. We are living in very helpless now. Still, (January-3, 2010) we haven’t got any solution. From local administration or any administration we haven’t got any help. Day after day have rescheduled date in the court. We have no child. My wifeliving in this house alone with very helpless when I was in university. In the regime of BNP I was threatened. Then my wife told me that don’t take any action on threatened. Because, they are very powerful they would be killed me. For our life security we didn’t go to the administration. But, local people were submitted an application to the RDA on behave of us. But RDA turned upside down against us. They had started oppression on us. We were built a stair before 24 years. On that stair RDA was given us a notice. They said that this stair was illegally built. After giving that notice RDA was pressured to us to compromise with opponent. But, we weren’t agreed with them. After then RDA authority was angry with us. We haven’t got any help from former Mayor of Rajshahi. Even from present local administration we haven’t getting any help.

Devika Basak wife of Arun Basak told, we are in heavy danger. We are in very unpeace situation with this house. Our nighouber was made a two floor building without any gap of our building. We were in round to door to door. But, nobody wasn’t helped us. Even I went to the local ward commissioner ihn several times. But, he hasn’t helped us.

Rajan Zed (third from left) with members of Sparks City Council before the invocation.

City Council of Sparks, one of the fastest growing cities of Nevada (USA), started day’s business with Sanskrit shlokas from ancient Hindu scriptures on Monday.

Rajan Zed, well known Hindu statesman, delivered invocation from Sanskrit scriptures before Sparks City Council on February eight. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer.

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He started and ended the prayer with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

Reciting from Taittiriya Upanishad, Rajan Zed said: “Om saha naavavatu, Saha nau bhunaktu, Saha viiryan karavaavahai, Tejasvi naavadhiitamastu, Maa vidhvishhaavahai,” which roughly translates as “May we be protected together, May we be nourished together, May we work together with great vigor, May our study be enlightening, May no obstacle arise between us.” Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged Councilors to “fulfill all your duties, action is better than inaction”.

Rajan Zed is one of the panelists for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com.
He has been awarded “World Interfaith Leader Award” by National Association of Interchurch and Interfaith Families.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Known as “City of Promise”, Sparks is a tailor-made town, custom ordered by the Southern Pacific Railway Company. Geno Martini is the mayor.

Since Hindus in East Bengal turned Bangladesh participated in all nationalistic movements right from the beginning of our glorious Language Movement in 1948, 1952 and 1966 to the heroic War of Liberation in 1971, along with their co-linguistic brothers and sisters belonging to the major religious group of Bangladesh, their hopes and aspirations have naturally become very high.

What happened in the early fifties, happened again in Bangladesh in 1992 and 2001. As a result the silent migration of Hindus from this country could not be stopped. The state failed to provide security to the minorities despite equal rights guaranteed to them in the constitution.

The self-contradictory “State Religion Provision” and “Vested Property Act” compromised making the State pledge meaningless.

This is an unending story of Hindus. Now we are talking about the present situation in Bangladesh. The print media reportedly published a number of incidences of violation of human rights. I could quote the headline of those stories published in the local dailies during the last 12 months in 2009, that would tell of its saddest thoughts of humiliation of Hindus.

The sacrifices of the Hindu leadership were never acknowledged either officially or publicly.

Does the nation pay respect to those departed souls? Is there any room for the Hindu leaders in the history who fought for the cause of history and the War of Liberation?

The so-called Bangladeshi nationalism in Bangladesh’s politics is a revival of two-nation theory. Here ” Bangladeshi ” means the Muslim citizens of the land, others like Hindu, Buddhists, Christians and tribal origins are aligning citizens, they would be absorbed in the majority community by conversion or make them compelled to leave Bangladesh.

In the post-August 1975, Bangladesh, Bengali, Hindu and India are equated with a typical psyche by the ruling cliché. “The existing literature on the history of Bangladesh underplays not only the inner contradictions of the Muslims of Bengal, but also other significant features of her past.” It is very difficult to guess about the inner world of the present-day Bangladesh.

The minorities of East Pakistan had not only fought for independence of Bangladesh together with all citizens of other sections of society. Hindus had to pay a great sacrifice for Bangladesh nationhood, but after August 1975, they are cornered, ciphered and uprooted due to property and vote’s bank assaults like erstwhile Pakistan military regimes.

Universal Declaration Of Human Rights (UDHR)

On December 10, 1948 the UN General Assembly endorsed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) the first international expression that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights:

(Article 1). This declaration (comprising 30 articles) forms the basis of essentially all humanitarian work around the globe today, and sets a human rights standard by which all societies are judged. The vast majority of UN member states adopted the UDHR.

Thus, December 10 represents a day to celebrate hope and the triumph of humanity. It is also a day to look back, renew the resolve and reinvigorate commitments to the dignity of people irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or any other identifiers that may be used for selective exclusion and deprivation.

The UDHR is a declaration of the principles of international law, and as such, is non- binding. However, it is accompanied by a series of international human rights covenants or treaties. These treaties require sovereign parties to enact coherent domestic measures and legislation that provide tangible legal mechanisms to protect the human rights guaranteed under international law.

Bangladesh is party to almost all the core conventions, such as the, ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination), and CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women).

It may be noted that the UDHR came about at the same time as the partitioning of India in 1947. The partitioning gave birth to Pakistan as the homeland for Indian Muslims, even though a substantial Muslim population chose to remain in secular India. The minorities, especially the Hindus and Buddhists who lived in East Pakistan (as it was then) faced varying degrees of discrimination and threats to life, property, dignity and freedom. An atmosphere of exclusion and hate prevailed.

Over and above other cultural conflicts under the military dictatorship in Islamic Pakistan, unhappiness in East Pakistan with the inequitable distribution of political and economic power led to the independence struggle.

Free, democratic, secular Bangladesh came into being in 1971. However, the Islamic forces never accepted this idea of nationhood.

In August 1975, brutal annihilation of almost the entire family members of founding Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Thus, power reverted back to the military.

Islam (as the state religion) replaced secularism. This allowed the Islamic fundamentalists a kind of constitutional footing in Bangladesh.

Against this background, it is probably not surprising to find that the human rights abuse minorities received under Pakistan’s framework also continues in Bangladesh.

The Hindu temples are damaged. Temple sites and other property are unlawfully occupied with new structures erected on them. Young girls are abducted for forcible marriages into Islam. Police authorities dismissively discourage investigation for such cases with communal undertones.

Naturally, despite a constitution that guarantees all citizens equal protection of law (Article 27), minorities in Bangladesh do not live with the confidence that their human rights will be respected. The minority population has dropped (through emigration) from 23% in 1954 to 11% in 2001.

However, with their parliamentary representation decreasing from 23.3% (on a quota basis) to 2%, minorities are under-represented in administration, judiciary and police. In those figures, one finds little cause for confidence ? a regrettable scenario, as Bangladesh, with its mostly progressive Muslim population, possesses a great potential to rise to the UDHR standard. Yet its human rights record (a standard normally judged by the way a country treats its vulnerable population) leaves a lot to be desired.

In Calcutta to participate in the rally called by Furfura Darbar Sharif, a Muslim organisation demanding reservation, the former Indian skipper Muhammad Azharuddin MP said: “I have raised the issue in Parliament. Reservation is a must for Muslims. I hope the Central government will go for reservation. I have been asked by Pranab Mukherjee to come here. I am his messenger and I represent the Congress.” (The Telegraph, 2 Feb 2010).

Pradip Bhattacharya, working president of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee said: “We have accepted the Rangnath Mishra report. It was our Congress government in Andhra, which first provided reservation of seats to minorities. Pir Saheb Maulana Toha Siddiqui of Furfura Sharif, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude towards Pranab Mukherjee for the “help” extended to the community.

“If political parties don’t work of us, be it Left or Right, we will kick them out. I had called Trinamool leaders Partho Chatterjee, Mukul Roy and Mamata Banerjee here, but they did not come. Time has come for all Muslims to rise up.” He added: “We demand reservation. The party that looks after us will look after them. This time only words will not do, show us what you can do. I am thankful to Pranab Mukherjee who extended all help to us.”

Mamata too smells blood

With the ruling Left Front backing Rangnath Mishra Commission’s recommendations calling for 15 per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee too threw her weight behind the quota proposal today, saying her party will implement them when it comes to power in Bengal. “This is nothing new. Look at our manifestos in 2001 and 2006 where we have said the same thing. We had already suggested this (reservation for Muslims).

The state government is shirking its responsibilities on the issue. Why is the state government not passing a resolution (in the state Assembly) and implementing it?” she told reporters at her Kalighat residence.

But what is happening in Bangladesh , if minority organisations raise this sort of demands, they would be termed as communal .

Bangladesh Minorities are slaves to their fate to the destiny of history also.

The distortion of the history of Bangladesh and with it the Bangladesh foreign policy objectives started following the fifth and eighth amendments to the constitution of Bangladesh in post August 1975.

After 1990, the two dominant parties -BNP and Awami League- had altered power, BNP winning in 1991, Awami League in 1996 and 2009, and a BNP-Jaamat led 4-party alliance again in 200.

The former 4-party regime and its beneficiaries disguised in the administration are marking time to create environment befitting for them. The government should look into those cases meticulously and lapses in the field administration be dealt seriously. We are receiving complain of grabbing lands from Madaripur, Dinajpur, and other districts. We have been receiving news of violation of human rights in the form of grabbing lands, religion and abduction and cases of rape in Sirajganj, Dinajpur, Jaipurhat, Jhinaidah Nagaon and Magura .

We don’t find any difference of behavior, particularly on minority issues, in administration and the nature of humiliation whether democratic regime or autocratic regime or Caretaker Government run by Emergency backed by Army rules in Bangladesh. That is why, the humiliated Hindus left Bangladesh to become a ‘stateless-citizens’ in neibouring states in India and their number became 1.5 crore since the period between1975 and 2006.

This has created a great divide in the society of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, being a Hindu means being a victim of oppression, torture and discrimination. The educated Hindus, who could play a leadership role in the community, left the country. The poor, who lacked leadership qualities, stayed back. Eminent personalities of the minorities who stayed on in Bangladesh live in the cities, so there are none to look after them in times of distress.

Whereas minority Muslims in India deserve a 15 percent reservation in Jobs. Is there any leader in Bangladesh to come forward to rescue these humiliated minorities?

We want legitimate share in every share of public posts not puja dole for appeasement. Echoing the tune of Pir Saheb of Furfura Shariff as stated above , we also put the same voice, “If political parties don’t work of us, we will kick them out. …We demand reservation in jobs in government services and parliament. The party that looks after us will look after them. This time only words will not do, show us what you can do”.

Each nation has to be mindful of this consequence —Bangladesh also included this time.

Rabindranth Trivedi is a retired Additional Secretary and former Press secretary to the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh presently Secretary General Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities ( HRCBM)-Dhaka.

An ancient Hindu temple in a village near the Bangladesh capital has been vandalised, the miscreants breaking six idols, police were quoted as saying on Saturday.

Some 30-35 people attacked the Sri Sri Rahshakali temple in Ashrafdi village in Naranaganj district on Friday night, the bdnews24 web site quoted a police official as saying.

They also damaged four adjacent houses and injured five people, it said.

Police officer Mohammed Yunus Ali said the temple was attacked following an altercation between a Hindu and three youths in the village. A case has been registered, the official said.

Mujibur Rahman

I woke up on Jan. 28 and was shocked to read the news of the execution of five former army officers – Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Mohiuddin Ahmed, A.K.M. Mohiuddin Ahmed and Bazlul Huda, convicted for killing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the country’s first president. Most of Rahman’s family members were also killed including his 10-year-old son.

The five were executed in Dhaka Central Jail, nearly 35 years after they assassinated Rahman in an army coup. As much as I was shocked to read the gruesome killing of the Rahman family, I was equally pained, as an anti death-penalty activist to note the execution of the five persons.

Rahman’s murder was interconnected by many political norms of the nation, which delayed justice for years. These forces set up a platform and even enforced a change in the country’s constitution.

More than 21 years after the assassination, a case was filed in October 1996, four months after the Awami League party led by Sheikh Hasina, one of Mujibur Rahman’s two surviving daughters, assumed office.

After 17 months of hearings, on Nov. 8, 1998, Kazi Gulam Rasul, a district and sessions court judge in Dhaka sentenced 15 former army officers to death by firing squad in public for the brutal murder of Rahman and 26 others including his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, a brother, and other close relatives, political associates and security men in a pre-dawn attack on Aug. 15, 1975.

The accused were Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Muhiuddin Ahmed, A.K.M. Mahiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda, Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Ahmed Shariful Hossain, A.M. Rashed Chowdhury, S.H.M.B. Noor Chowdhury, Md. Abdul Aziz Pasha, Md. Kismat Hashem, Nazmul Hossain Ansar, Abdul Mazed, and Moslemuddin.

On Dec. 14, 2000, when the case went for an appeal hearing, the High Court delivered a split verdict. One judge upheld the death sentence for 10 of the accused and acquitted the other five while another judge upheld the death sentences on all 15 defendants.

Another high court judge then took up the case and a final verdict was delivered on April. 30, 2001, upholding the death sentences of 12 defendants while three – Md. Kismat Hashem, Ahmed Shariful Hossain and Nazmul Hossain Ansar were acquitted. The five – Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Mohiuddin Ahmed, A.K.M. Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Bazlul Huda were convicted and detained in the Dhaka Central Jail, but later appealed to the Supreme Court against their death sentences.

The Supreme Court upheld their sentences on Nov. 19, 2009 and a final review of the case was scheduled on Jan. 24, 2010, as the last judicial remedy to the five men.

However, the entire trial has been questioned for its fairness and the political bias of judges, especially with the Awami League in power. But this is a normal procedure in Bangladesh.

If prisoners are sentenced to death, they can appeal to the High Court against their conviction. If the High Court upholds the sentence, they can appeal to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court upholds the sentence, the prisoners have one more judicial remedy and that is a final review of the case by the same bench of the Supreme Court. If the death sentence is still upheld, the only remedy open to the prisoners is a mercy petition requesting clemency from the president.

Five former army officers were executed in Bangladesh on Jan. 28 for assassinating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, in 1975. While the death penalty could not be overturned, the local media reported on Jan. 19 that the president had considered and rejected the mercy petition of three of the accused – Mohiuddin Ahmed, A.K.M. Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Bazlul Huda.

It is a tradition that mercy petitions are normally considered after all the judicial processes and options are over.

Sheikh Hasina, one of Mujibur Rahman’s two surviving daughters and the present prime minister of Bangladesh publicly vowed to find six other killers of her father, hiding as fugitives, and execute them at any cost. “Wherever the killers are, they will be brought back and executed. The world is small, where will they escape to?” she said at Gano Bhaban.

Followers of the Awami League party reportedly harassed some family members of the executed men including during the burial of one of the men. The families now fear of persecution and more harassment.

The media mostly played a politically bias role. The notable Daily Ittefaq had labeled the sentenced men as saviors of the nation in 1975, but titled them national enemies after their execution.

In addition, the media did not respect the privacy and security of family members of the executed men, nor did they report their views and comments. The role of Rahman and some of his family members was questionable during a time of conflict that had many political problems. This is widely known in political circles.

The question is whether the trial was free and fair and the answer is, it was not. When the United Nations general assembly adopted resolution 62/149 on Dec.18, 2007, calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions, the resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 104 member states. Fifty-four countries voted against it and 29 abstained.

Bangladesh along with its prime minister and the political regime is practicing the inhuman “death penalty” and wrongly influencing free and fair trials.

For Sheikh Hasina, I leave a note, “To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice,” Desmond Tutu said.

And for the reader, I pose the question by Victor Hugo. “What says the law? You will not kill. How does it say it? By killing.”

It is time to take a decision and change the “killing law” and make the world more human.

William Nicholas Gomes is a human rights activist and freelance journalist. He can be reached at E-mail:cda.exe@gmail.com

Both of two businessmen have a land of the middle of Rajshahi city. In front of their land have a small piece of land (one and half Katha) which of owner Hindu minority Gopal Ram and Noresh Ram (both of are brother). One side of the land has a small wheat broken factory. Other side they have been living in a small room. But, the influentials businessmen were wanted to buy this land of piece for increasing their multistoried building. Owner of that land was denied to sell it. After then the influentials were making conspiracy to evict from hereditary homestead of them and to grab this land. For this they wanted to use Army men.

On 1st January, 2010 Gopal Ram told, this was a house. My older mother was living here. But, the influentials was destroyed it. When they were doing vandalizing my mother and a daughter of my brother were inside of this house. They would be killed, fortunately they were safe. By brutally they were attacked in the night (at around 3.00am). We were afraid and anxious. Even our lives were hard to safe. In that time nobody was helped us.
They were vandalized our factory and room. A portion of the factory was safe. But, two third portion of our room was destroyed. After this my mother was died few days ago only for overwhelmed with grief of house. Still we are in front of torture. By any means we have been staying here with the life of hand. Of the factory have 440 power lines. It is very risky. In every rainy season here comes horrible scenario. In that time no one can live here. But, we have no alternative.

He also mentioned that, still we werent getting justice. Wife of Gopal Ram told, they were looted chair, table, an almirah and other furnitures. Gopal Ram said, many places I went for help even administration. But nobody helped me.

He added that, they were made their multistoried building wall after broken our wall and room. Our house was fine and quite. But suddenly, terrorists group were came here and destroyed. Before that they were threatened to us. I went to local police station and informed to them. The police came and gone after investigation. Later again police was called me. Then I went to the police station with all of our papers. They were took and looking that papers. But, they didnt take any action.

In this way many days have passed. Then again the attackers were threatened to us. At a stage they were vandalized our room during their building was making. They were destruction our wall by land ditch in side of our house wall. I was tried to protect. I was informed to police and local elites. But, they didnt take initiative to protect us. Then I was filed a case. I was seeking security from government. The court was an ordered in favor of me. In spite of one day they were attack and rampage our house and factory in the day light. Around thousand people were took part that operation. Haran and Petar also were present in that time. They were possession some portion of our land. When my wife was tried to protect them then they were attempt to murder her. Again I went to the police station. Then police was come to the spot. But, police was told me that, you have to compromised with them. I told, why and what compromised? Where, I would go. I have a bit of land. By this land we are living and doing something for our lives. I have no alternative to operate for the family. But, they have made their building. I was obtained Court decree from Sadar court and from district Judge Court. Indeed, administration could nothing for us. I have continuing the case. But, the opponents have taking time again and again. I have in great trouble. My demand is the, government should to do something for us. We want justice. We are mentally upset. How long we would wait for justice? How would we alive?

Wife of Gopal Ram told, since 2001we are under torture, panic. They didnt take me some time for cooking. They want to kill us by set fire. They told us that, nobody could anything to them. We have power, we have money. We would manage all the things by money.

She also said, they are waiting for chance again. With children we are under torturing. In spite of have law but we didnt get benefit from law. From administration, police, court anywhere we didnt get helped. To every where they were giving money. Then all of their mouth has stopped. Even an army officer was come and told us that we would destruction your house. Though case has running in the court.

She is Language, he is Thought
She is Prudence, he is Law
He is Reason; she is Sense
She is Duty; he is Right
He is Will; she is Wish
He is Pity; she is Gift
He is Song; she is Note
She is Fuel; he is Fire
She is Glory; he is Sun
She is Motion; he is Wind
He is Owner; she is Wealth
He is Battle ; she is Might
He is Lamp; she is Light
He is Day; she is Night
He is Justice; she is Pity
He is Channel; she is River
She is Beauty; he is Strength
She is Body; he is Soul

- The Wisdom of The Vishnu Purana (English version

Hindu Philosophy

Hindus take tremendous pride in the fact that their religion encourage true pluralism. According to Hinduism, all religions are true and they all lead to the same God. This leads to confusing conclusion leading some people to loose the significance of Hinduism itself. They wonder what makes Hinduism stand out. They question why can’t Krishna be called Allah or Jehovah.

I do believe the way you name your God or the spiritual path you follow is very important to your realization of the lord. When people say they are above all religions or representation of the God, I get very confused. To me this conclusion has no basis. Then we would have no multiple spiritual path to the God but only one. Greatest seers or religious leaders were not even above all religions.

It’s important for you to stick to your spiritual path and identify yourself with it. It will make sense if we think of spirituality as a materialistic goal. Let’s say our goal is to make 1 million $. There are multiple ways of acquiring that goal but all ways are not successful for everyone. If you find your way, then stick to it and identify yourself with it. If you keep saying that all paths to million $ are the same then you are deceiving yourself as they are not.

Then after you get that million $, you recognize your path, not discard it. Don’t say, now that you got million dollars your path is not anymore important to you. That’s why the people that have truly achieved moksha (i.e. Vivekananda) they continued to recognize their path to their spiritual goal.

The belief of different paths leading to the same God is strictly a belief of Sanatan Dharma. If you believe in that philosophy, then you are a Hindu. If Hindu philosophy is not your thing then move on to a different spiritual philosophy. However, if you ascribe to a non-sanatan philosophy, remember then you are actually giving up this belief of all paths being equally valued.

Even though it sounds very promising, one cannot pick and choose different spiritual philosophies or follow his heart to constitute his own philosophy. That’s because he is not the God. One cannot be lawyer, doctor, teacher, accountant at the same time to be successful in his materialistic life. 1 has to ascribe to one path only and become the best at it. Spiritual goal is like that.

The Sikhs, during Mughal rule , faced a scenario very similar to the Hindus of Bangladesh. They were mercilessly tortured, killed and harassed by Mughal soldiers. They had two options; either to sit   back and watch the annihilation of their race or to fight back. They chose the latter. Under Guru Gobind Singh, they transformed into a martial race. And history is witness to the success of the Sikhs. They are less than 2% of India’s population but are influential in every field. India is today ruled by a Sikh.

Bangladeshi Hindus must take inspiration from Sikhs. It is the need of the hour; Hindus must , in the midst of oppression, turn into a martial race. Not in the sense that they pick up weapons and fight   people but rather using weapons provided by civil society and democracy. So, every time someone is killed for being a Hindu, call a ‘Bandh’ ; whenever our women are molested, ‘gherao’  the police station and civic buildings, jam the roads, block rail tracks and when our properties are seized, do not hesitate to pour black paint on government buildings. In such non-violent actions, the aim must not be to create fear in the minds of non-Hindus but rather to emphasize that Hindus will not take injustice lying down.

Hindus must consolidate. Various Hindu organizations of Bangladesh must come under a common umbrella organization. The plight of Hindus has long been talked and much has been written about it. But the world is not listening. It is time for answers, it is time for solutions. And these must come from within the community. This is our struggle and we must take it to the end alone

আমরা বেশীরভাগই বংশগত অথবা পরিবারগতভাবেই হিন্দু বা মুসলিম বা খ্রীষ্টান। সাধারণভাবে কেন একজন মুসলিম ছেলে হিন্দু হয় না অথবা হিন্দু ছেলে মুসলিম হয় না? উত্তরটা খুবই সোজা। সবাই যার যার পরিবারের নিকটতম সান্নিধ্যে থাকতে চায়, নিজের পরিচিত গন্ডী ভেঙ্গে বের হয়ে আসার মত সাহসের অভাব, ছোটবেলা থেকে গড়া অভ্যাসের প্রতি নির্ভরশীলতা এবং পরিবার ও পারিপার্শ্বিকতা থেকে পাওয়া ধর্মভীরুতা।

কিন্তু এত কিছুর পরও একটা হিন্দু ছেলে তার পরিচিত গন্ডী থেকে বের হয়ে আসতে পারে। সেই পরিমান সাহস ও বুদ্ধি সে স্বয়ংক্রিয়ভাবেই অর্জন করে। সে একজন নাস্তিক্যবাদী মানুষে পরিণত হতে চায়। ধর্মের কফিন ভেঙ্গে সে বেরিয়ে আসার মত সক্ষমতা অর্জন করে চারপাশের নিদারুণ মস্তিষ্ক ধর্ষণ সত্ত্বেও। কিন্তু সে শেষ পর্যন্ত বের হয়ে আসতে পারে না। তার কফিনে শেষ পেরেকটা খুব শক্তভাবেই মেরে দেয় আমাদের সমাজ সংসার। আশ্চর্যের বিষয় হল এই পেরেক মারার মিস্ত্রিটা কিন্তু কোন হিন্দু নয় বরং মুসলিম। হ্যাঁ আমাদের চারপাশের মুসলিমরাই তাদের আরো বেশী হিন্দু করে তোলে আরো বেশী গোঁড়া ও রক্ষণশীল করে তোলে।

একটা হিন্দু ছেলে আমাদের এই দেশে ছোট থাকতেই তার চারপাশের সমাজে নিজেকে আলাদা ভাবতে শুরু করে। সে বুঝতে পারে সে হিন্দু, তাকে প্রতি পদে পদে স্মরণ করিয়ে দেওয়া হয় যে সে হিন্দু। তাকে কানের কাছে মুখ এনে বলা হয়, “তুমি হিন্দু! তুমি হিন্দু!! তুমি হিন্দু!!!” ফলে খুব ছোট থাকতেই তার চারপাশের পরিচিত গাছপালা তার কাছে অপরিচিত হয়ে যায়। একজন মুসলিম ছেলেকে কেউ বলে না তুমি মুসলিম, তুমি একটু ভিন্ন ধর্মের, তোমার ধর্ম আলাদা, ধর্ম বলে একটা জিনিস আছে, তুমি পুরোপুরি আমাদের সমাজের নও, তুমি একটু ভিন্ন। একজন মুসলিম ছেলে কখনো চিন্তা করে না, সে একটা ভিন্ন সমাজে আছে, সে একটা ভিন্ন ভাবধারায় আছে। সকালবেলার প্রাতকৃত্যের মতনই তার সমাজটা তার কাছে পরিচিত। সেখানে সে নিজ ধর্ম নিয়ে খুব কমই চিন্তা করে, বরং স্বতঃসিদ্ধ হিসেবে সে ধর্মকে মেনে নিয়ে জীবনের উপপাদ্যগুলো তৈরী করতে থাকে। তাকে কখনো ভাবতে হয় না, আমি কোন সমাজের, কোথায় গেলে আমি নিঃসঙ্কোচভাবে চলতে পারব।এভাবেই তার ভিতর ধর্ম সম্পর্কে ভাবনা তৈরী হয়। যদি সে কোন বিদ্যালয়ের ছাত্র হয়ে থাকে, তবে উচ্চশিক্ষার পথে সে যত এগুতে থাকে তার ধর্মভাবনাগুলো ততই পরিপক্কতা পায় এবং সে ক্রমশ একজন নাস্তিকে পরিণত হতে থাকে আর যদি সে সমাজের নীচুতলার কোন সুবিধাবঞ্চিত হয়ে থাকে তবে তার এতকিছু ভাবার সময় থাকে না। নীচুতলায় সবচেয়ে বড় ঈশ্বর হচ্ছেন “ভাত”। পাক পবিত্র সুচিতায় মূর্ত কোন ঈশ্বরের সেখানে জায়গা হয় না। সেখানে ঈশ্বর কাদামটি, ইট পাথরের ধূলিমাখা হাতুড়ি নতুবা নোংরা মাটির টুকরি। কদাচিত সেখানে উচুতলার ঈশ্বররা দেখা দেন।

চলবে………



The Arpita Sampatti Protapon law of 2009 passed through the government’s offices quite quickly. It is said that with this new law, the government will send one district judge for the tribunal for every district. They said, in Bangladesh two lakh acres of land are in the government’s control under the vested property act. The other 4 lakh acres of land is unknown to the government and in what condition they are in. Then there is Sultana Kamal who said “they will be giving the lands back to their original owners”. Others claim that 26 lakh acres of land in under the vested property act, and did they say it was only 6 lakh acres?

First like the articles claim, they want a definition for “satru” and who they are calling that to. Under the rules, there has to be a gadget published for the list of lands, create district based tribunal and set up dates for the ruling, remove the words that claim that one has to be Bangladeshi citizen and give the land to other family members, partners and sufferers of this act.

Previously Written in: Chotto Mind’s Blog

Sources: Samakal Internet Edition
Prothom Alo

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Singapore coming out with Deepavali Aerogramme was a great honor for Hindus in Singapore and worldwide. Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other countries of the world also to issue stamps and other postal materials about symbols and concepts of Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world with rich philosophical thought whose ultimate goal was moksha (liberation).

This Aerogramme shows a girl and a boy with folded hands and some lighted lamps, etc. Singapore Post, which issued this Aerogramme, has a heritage dating back to 1819. Lim Ho Kee is the chairman of its Board.

City-State Republic of Singapore, with flourishing port and glittering skyscrapers, is one of the world’s most affluent places. It is a multi-religious country with Buddhists (about 43%) leading others in numbers. Tamil is one of the official languages along with English, Malay, and Chinese.

Where are we heading to? This sentence at the very outset may astound you a good deal. Well, before going to any further, let’s check out some readily available facts.

Ever since Islam stepped into the realm of Bengal, forceful conversion of Hindus has been one of the most preferred ploys of the Muslim zealots to make the whole community kowtow. Throughout the Muslim hegemony and 19th century, it was in full swing and gained new momentum with the onset of the 20th century backed by several doctrines. It has been unabated in both erstwhile East Pakistan and contemporary Bangladesh but the same malicious campaign is being witnessed in the Indian state of Bengal too, thanks to the tacit understanding between the pseudo-secular sections and Islamic fundamentalist forces and certainly the uncanny silence of the culpable democratic society.

What is more striking, even the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court, considered as the highest form of judiciary in the state, is corroborating the same spiteful intents. What else can be said if we look at the strange development of the case of Ms Anita Ray?

Ms Anita Ray (aged 15) and Shahidul got married only after she was misled by him. Anita, at the behest of Shahidul, ran from her paternal residence, got converted into Islam and married the venomous guy. Mr. Suvendu Ray (Anita’s father) got infuriated and with the help of police got hold of the estranged daughter only on 20th October, six days after the couple took flight.

From that period Shahidul was absconding and even though he appealed to the lower court for bail in advance, it was rejected altogether. Strangely enough, Calcutta High Court has sanctioned the same citing that marriage of women under 15 years is lawful under the Muslim Marriage Act, unlike Hindus.

What does this lead to? Does the court wish for to affirm that any such act is glorious? Does it want to convey the message that Muslim society is omnipotent and what it does is just? Before that, Anita, at the time of conversion, was of 15 years old only. How can a minor be converted?

It’s definite that the Ray family didn’t consent or respond favorably to the proposal, not to speak of Anita, a minor girl who can’t decide on any such crucial issue, in accordance with Indian Penal Code.

What can you say then? This is one of the gravest conspiracies known hitherto and must be trounced, forget about remaining indoors and continue to doggone or wish harm upon Shahidul. Without a shred of doubt, he has been backed by the considerable section of Muslims in close proximity, may be there is the involvement of Calcutta section as well.

The line of battlefield has been drawn already and we are taking all types of measures to make the heinous conspiracy bite the dust. Be it legal or…………

Animitra Chakraborty is a journalist and a blogger. Please visit his blog “A Journalist Speaks….“

Even considering the migrating population to India, 20 million Hindus are missing in Bangladesh. This is a saga of Hindu genocide in Bangladesh that hasn't been brought into light before.]

Hindus comprised nearly 30% of the total population in Bangladesh in 1947. After the exodus of minorities following the partition of India in 1947, the hindu population went down to about 22% by 1951. Due to unabated persecution, intimidation, and forcible conversion to Islam, the Hindu-Minority population kept on dwindling and now stands at a meager 10.5% of the total population in Bangladesh (1991 census).

Interesting to note that minority Muslim population in adjoining West Bengal (India) showed a positive growth rate and according to 1991 Census, stood at nearly 24% of the total population from only about 12% in 1947.

India and West Bengal Census Data

Source: Census of India 1991 (http://www.censusindia.net/), Data Source : 1991 Census of India

Table 29: Population of India since 1901 Census

Table 24: Three Main Religions in every state, (India, 1991)

Hindus              687,646,721      82.00 %

Muslims            101,596,057      12.12  %

Christians          19,640,284        2.34 %

846,302,688      (Total)

West Bengal (1991)

Hindus              50,866,624        74.7 % (1961 : 78.8%, decreased 4.1%)

Muslims            16,075,836        23.6 % (1961 : 20%, increased 3.6%)

Christians          383,477 0.6 %    (1961 : 0.5%, increased 0.1%)

West Bengal (1961-1991)

Year     Total     Hindu    Muslim  Chrsn    Others

1961     34.92    78.8      20.0      0.5        0.1

1991     68.07    74.7      23.6      0.5        0.6

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, hindu population was 28% in 1941; 22% in 1951, 18.5% in 1961; 13.5% in 1974;

12.2% in 1981 and 10.5% in 1991. Hindu population decreased by 8% from 1961 to 1991 (Ref 1, 2).

The vanishing minority population is understood from researching the census documents published the government. Fifty years ago in 1941, 28.3 per cent of the total population was minorities. The population of Hindu was 11.88 millions, while 588 thousand was other religious and ethnic minorities (Buddhist, Christian and animist). Evaluation of government statistics of 50 years, from 1941 to 1991, indicates a large drop in the figure for minorities. A comparative picture shows that the number of the Muslim majority increased 219.5 per cent while the Hindu community increased by 4.5 per cent. (Ref 3).

If normal increase rate prevailed, the number of the Hindu community in this country would have been 32.5 million, but the Hindu population in Bangladesh stood at 12.5 million in 1991 Census (State of Human Rights, 1994). Therefore the missing population is 20 million. (Ref 3).

Ethnic Cleansing In Bangladesh

Ethnic cleansing of minorities in Bangladesh  (then East Pakistan) started in 1947. Over half-a-century has passed with no end is in sight. Minorities in Bangladesh,  including women and children were subjected to extreme brutality and torture following the last National Election in Bangladesh held in October 2001, forcing many families to migrate out of their  ”Homeland of generations” for physical safety. In the recent past, there have been several cases of brutal killings of prominent members of minority communities in the strategic Chittagong and its Hill Tracts, by armed gang of Islamic fanatics. Significantly, these tragic incidents were perpetrated in the wake of Santu Larma – Khaleda Zia high-level talks at Dhaka on April 20, for establishing permanent peace in the said region. That very day in Rangamati (CHT), an armed gang of Bnp-Jei backed ‘United People’s Democratic Front’ (Updf) attacked pro-Larma Chakma tribals resulting in the death of four Chakma Buddhists. Next day (April 21), at Vill. Hingla in Rouzan locality of Chittagong, Gyanjyoti Borooah (55 yrs), a locally popular Buddhist Monk, running an Orphanage / Monastery was brutally killed. Thereafter on April 28/29, another Chakma Buddhist named Gyandarshi Chakma was shot dead at village Babupara in Mahalchhari (Cht). One of his companion sustained bullet wounds. The same night,  Madan Gopal Goswami, a Hindu Priest of  was gunned down in Gachhabil area of Manikchhari (Cht). These cases of utmost brutality generated strong resentment among local Chakmas and Hindus.

Some “recent” incidents (2002)

( 1 )    20th April 2002, at Moulavibazar district of Bangladesh, in Laxmipur village under Kulaur Police station several armed Muslim fundamentalists attacked the houses of Dulal Debnath and Jitendra Debnath, both members of the Hindu minority community. The houses were set ablaze. The group of miscreants led by Iuyas Mian of Balichiri village forcefully captured their lands. A case has been filed against them at the Kulaur police station.

( 2 )    8th May, 2002, N. M. Jahangir Alam-A well known journalist of the newspaper Sambad which is published from Dhaka, was beaten up by Muslim fundamentalists. Because he was accused of publishing several news, reporting the poor conditions of the Hindu minority of Bangladesh. He filed a case at the near by Police Station but the police did not show the any interest in arresting the miscreants

( 3 )    5th May, 2002-in the morning, At the Dolu Bridge area situated in the Shattkaniya sub-district of South Chattagram, a group of Muslim fundamentalists kidnapped Rupam Mullick, a Hindu resident and damaged his arms and legs.

( 4 )    23rd May, 2002, near Sadhurpara situated at the Chandgaon police station of Chattagram, the local Muslim fundamentalists forcefully captured the lands owned by a Hindu widow Charubala Nath (80).

( 5 )    8th May, 2002,-in Narikelbaria village of Bakharpara sub-district situated at Jessore, a local Muslim extreamist, Saiful along with Kabir and other fundamentalists demanded, more than 1 lakhs takas (U.S. $2,000) as Jizya tax (tax imposed by non-Muslims on Muslims) from a business Subodh Saha. But Subodh refused to pay the tax. As a result the fanatics took a glass bottle fill with hot water and vehemently beat Subodh with it. He was badly injured. His two legs were damaged. Another person called Bablu Saha, who came to protect Subodh was also beaten up.

( 6 )    10th May, 2002, at night, a Hindu journalist named Manik Mazumdar’s office was destroyed by a group of right wing Muslim fundamentalists. Manik Mazumdar is the president of reporter’s union of Madhukhali sub-district in Faridpur.

( 7 )    25th April, 2002, 9 o’clock at morning in Thakurgaon district, Chandramohan Sarkar, headmaster of Shapla Adarsha Uchcha Vidyalaya was forcefully resigned from his post because of being a Hindu, by Muslim fundamentalists.

( 8 )    7th May, 2002, at the Shathkhira sub-district, in the Sreerampur village a Hindu housewife was raped by a reactionary Muslim fanatic named Shafiqul Islam. A case has been filed but no adequate action has been taken by the police against the accused.

( 9 )    9th May, 2002, at night, a Hindu religious place-”Aditya Asram” situated in the Khashipur village under the Banshkhali police station of Chattagram was demolished by some Muslim activists. A group of 30 to 40 muslim fundamentalists along with sharp weapons attacked the ”Aditya Asram”. The priest of the temple-Pradipananda Purimoharaj was deeply injured by the fundamentalists. The property of the ”Ashram” has been looted taken away by the attackers.

( 10 )    4th May 2002, at night, near the Biyanibazar of Sulhet district, a Hindu Brahmin girl of the Uttabhag village has been kidnapped by a group of Muslim fundamentalists and raped mercilessly. 5th May, the villagers rescued her but she was totally senseless.

( 11 )    3rd May, 2002, at night, in Kumilya district of Bangladesh Brajendra Bhowmick, a Hindu villager of Haludia situated under Mujaffargunge Union was attacked by armed right wing Muslim fundamentalists. The houses of Subhash Chandra Bhowmick, Nakul Chandra Bhowmick and Bimalendu Bhowmick have been set a blaze. The local police station is still indifferent regarding the incident.

( 12 )    8th May, 2002, at night, in the Nator district of Bangladesh, the villagers of Bashantapur at Shingra sub-district were attacked by armed Muslim extremists. The houses of Niren, Nitai, Atul, Prabhat, Dinesh, Ajit, Krishna, Jitendra, Basudev and Sukumar, all Hindus were looted. The families have decided to leave Bashantapur for India.

( 13 )    Recently, near the Patuakhali sub-district of Bangladesh, at Khachipara and Kalishuri village of Banpual-the Hindu minorities have been forcibly interned at their homes to keep them under observation. Shishutosh Dash, Bhabaranjan Das, Debendranath Sarkar and Hiron Kumar Sarkar were forced to sign and give away all their houses and properties to the Muslim fundamentalists. They only cried in silence and left their land to move away to any other place.

( 14 )    20th April, in evening, at Uttapara sub-distict of Shirajgunga a Hindu clothes merchant, Nitai Sarkar has been attacked by some muslim exrremsits. Clothes from his shop were stolen that valued nearly, 1 lakh (U.S. $ 2,000) takas. Being mercilessly beaten he is now under treatment.

( 15 )    15th April 2002, in the Chagal Naiya sub-distict of Pheni district, Khrishna Das (60) and Ujjal Das (27) Hindu vilagers of Sattar village has been severely tortured by local right wing Muslim fundamentaliss, because they refused to pay the jizya tax according to their demands.

( 16 )    20th May 2002, at Bargauna district of Bangladesh, in Bukabania Zabar of Bamma sub-distrcits some Hindu owned lands surrounding a temple were captured by the Muslim partymen. They belonged to the fundamentalists group of the Bangladesh National Party. They have started to build their party office in that area.

Forceful Conversion of Two  Minor Hindu Girls to Islam-Attack on Family Members:

Monday, August 05,  2002

Two  minor Hindu girls, namely Miss Sushma Rani Malo (15 year old), daughter of Shri  Anil Chandra Malo and Miss Putul Rani Malo (15 year old), daughter of  ShriMonoranjan  Malo of village Kulpaddy, Police Station and District of Madaripur, were  kidnapped from their houses one kilometer from Madaripur police station. The  guardians of the victims described in a very heart-rending manner to Advocate  Rabindra Ghosh, President HRCBM, Dhaka, Bangladesh, that their minor daughters  were students of Class VIII. The minor girls were kidnapped by some Muslims of  the same village, led by the Imman of Madaripur Sadar Hospital Mosque. They were  forced to sign an affidavit that they are 19 years of age and they wanted to  convert to Islam at their own will on 25th of July, 2002. In addition, they were  allured and detained and compelled by some Muslims of the same locality, particularly the supporters of Jamal-E-Islami Party, to swear an affidavit by a  Notary Public at Madaripur. The victims, Putul Rani Malo and Sushma Rani Malo,  came back to their parents on 25th July, 2002, in the evening. On hearing the  news that the two girls had gone back to their parents some Jamal-E-Islamic  supporters numbering about 250/300 surrounded the houses of the victim-girls at  about 11 P.M. at night. The criminals started assaulting Arun Chandra Malo(26),  brother of victim Sushma Rani Malo. Arun Chandra Malo sustained severe injuries  on the lower portion of the eyes, which were still visible after 8 days. He was  under the treatment of local doctor. Ultimately those two victim girls were again kidnapped by the Muslim criminals on 26th July, 2002. The police and law enforcement authorities did neither provide any protection to the girls and  their families nor arrested the criminals. Not only that the miscreants with the  help of some police officials of Madaripur police station tactfully obtained an  undertaking from the guardians of the victim girls that they do not like to  lodge any complain with the police and they did not take any cases against the  criminals. Advocate Rabindra Ghosh finally was successful in filing two F.I.R.’s  with the Madaripur Police Station during his visit.

Advocate Mr. Ghosh pointed to the Deputy Commissioner  that the consent of any minor, according to law, is no consent and the date of  birth of the victims proved that they were minors. So the consent obtained by  the criminals by an affidavit in the Notary Public has got no force in law.  Until and unless the minor becomes 18 years of age she is not capable to give  consent as per the latest ruling of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. It is quite astonishing to note that the “No objection certificate” obtained by some police  officers tactfully from the simple-minded and law-abiding guardians of the  victims are very much unwarranted and without jurisdiction; and for this  deceitful endeavor on the part of any law-enforcing agencies are highly  reprehensible and punishable under law. It is also astonishing to note that  while the victim girls were kidnapped from a house by the miscreants the police was silent and they were allowed to organize processions in the locality in the  name of religion and promote violence and intolerance. Mr. Ghosh requested the  Deputy Commissioner of Madaripur to hand over the minor victims to the legal  guardians but no actions have yet been taken. A serious tension is prevailing in  the area and the minorities fear for their life and security.

3 injured as  Islamic terrorists attack Christian Para (locality) in Barisal : March 23rd, 2002

UNB,  Barisal

Armed terrorists attacked  the Christian-dominated area at Kashipur on the outskirts of the town yesterday,  leaving three people injured, one witness said the hoodlums numbering around 10 swooped on the Christian Para at Icchakati at about 11 am  and ransacked a house belonging to Badal Baidya. During the raid,  they also stabbed three people, including Liton Sadhu, when they tried to resist  them. Liton was admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital “in  critical condition”

Terrorists attack houses of Christian  community in Pabna : February 28th, 2002

PABNA, Feb 27: At least 20 people were injured as some terrorists allegedly attacked and damaged several  houses of Christian community members in two villages of Chatmohor Upazila in  the district on Tuesday night, reports UNB. Local people said the violence started when one Susanta Modal of village Kadamtol refused to pay money allegedly to some cadres of JCD, the student wing of ruling BNP, for buying  liquor. Refusal to pay money made the cadres angry and they went on the rampage  assaulting Susanta. Ten people were injured and four houses ransacked in the  attack, according to sources.

Gang rape continues at  Naugaou, minority girls appeal for justice: February  13th, 2002

Daily  Janakantha dated 13th February, 2002

Naugaou: After brutal gang  rape of minority girl Purnima at Ullapara, another Purnima has become the victim  of gang rape at Niamatpur under Naugaou. Terrorists armed with lethal country made weapon burst into the house of Mr. Gajendra Nath Sarkar at mid night, the miscreants went on rampage at the house kicking and punching family members  first and then forcefully kidnapped Ms. Babita Rani Sarkar, holding the family  at gunpoint. Next morning, the miscreants dropped off the subdued and tormented  body of Ms. Babita who was seriously wounded but alive. Terrorist warned the  local minorities for stern punishment if the incident is reported to police.  This incident further instigated fear among minorities at Bhahadurpur village.  To escape humiliation and save their females minorities are sending out all the  young girls and women to relatives in towns. Ignoring all the warnings, oppression and torture of miscreants, Ms. Babita, a student of class ten in  local school and her family decided to file case in the local police station.  The brave girl identified one “Shariful” among eight evildoers. Police has  arrested Shariful and Ahidur Rahman while writing this report. Ms. Babita has  now taken refuge to the residence of her maternal uncle at Mandar Bevbra  village. Latter Police Superintendent Mr. Mustafijur Rahman visited the village  assuring the safety of minorities there but locals said minorities never been  safe since the last election. Some also stated that Babita’s distant sister was also gang raped earlier but administration has not done enough to endow justice.

References :

1] Bangladesh A Country Study, Ed. J.Heitzman R.L.Worden, 2nd Ed, Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, Publisher U.S. Army, 1989, pp.250,255

2] Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 th Ed, Micropedia, Vol.1, p.789 Desh.

3] State of Minorities in Bangladesh : From Secular to Islamic Hegemony : Saleem Samad

http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/ssamad_Bangaldesh.html

Several other human rights related web sites.