Adv.Rabindra GhoshPresident-Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) was sent news which was published in the daily Sangbad. We have known that, Sangbad is an oldest newspaper in Bangladesh. And they have goodwill as a responsible journalism.

Properties belonging to Minorities at Sherpur District forcefully occupied by Juba League Leader on last Saturday, shops demolished; women injured (The daily Sangbad dated 10 August, 2009)

A group of hoodlums with the leadership of Hafizur Rahman Hafiz andhis elder brother Azizur Rahman Aziz – Cultural Secretary of Juba League (Youth Organisation of Awami League) Nalitabari Upazila underSherpur district on last Saturday morning forcefully occupied seven decimals of lands belonging to a Hindu owner- Surjya Kanta Debnath. In this connection allegations received from the victim’s family that two shops were demolished and their daughter Ms.Lipi Debnath was physically assaulted during operation.

But Juba League Leader denied the allegations of forceful occupation of lands, but he admitted that the lands purchased by his father and uncle were recovered. It is also alleged that since long there was a dispute between Surjya Kanta and Hafizur Rahman & Brothers with regard to seven decimals of lands situated at Garkanda Saha Para within Nalitabari Upazila. Surjya Kanta possessed the lands since long. But before forceful occupation Hafizur and Azizur were putting constant pressure to Hindu occupant to give up the lands.

But Surjya Kanta claimed that the seven decimals of lands were purchased from his maternal aunt- Ms.Khuki Bala and as such he is the real owner of the properties. And the claim of Hafizur is baseless and illegal. Advocate Sudhanshu Kumar Kaloar informed that a group of hoodlums armed with deadly weapon attacked the house of Surjya Kanta and demolished two shops belonging to Surja Kanta and assaulted Ms.Lipi Debnath and occupied the lands forcefully.

It is also learnt that this Juba League leader –Hafizur Rahman is the accused of charge sheeted case of murder of Yousuf and Takan who are also President and Secretary of Nalitabari Chatra League respectively killed by him on 25th October, 1999. This case has been stayed by order of the High Court Division.

Jahangir Alam Akash

In this gang, Tauhidul Islam Bhuiya (Sumon) is in murder charges and even though he is supposed to in trials, he remains free. When police came, they said: “It is not kidnapping. It is love affairs between kidnapper and victim” and to many this does not seem like a love affair. The police do not want to keep in the flow with this case and evne though they have looked upon the case in video, the physical harm done to the house, the cry from the girl’s uncle, and the request from the family to help them get Koli back.

This still stays the same, Richard Benkin said in his blog, that the victims are commonly the young girls, women, and sometimes bodys. The government official that was in the issue suggested that the govenment is supporting these types of kidnapping and harrasing, converting a human to take against their will. What the Muslims have to understand is that even though they might think that forcing someone to go against their own will might make their religion more powerful, well, that might now become the case. They have to userstand that if they do not show the good path, one day the ones that were Muslim due to their ancestors for a long time will quit Islam and say that it is a forceful religion. If this continues, then one day the religion that was built forcefully will be closed down with no power from the physical strength but the mental.

Richard Benkin’s Blog

From Chotto Mind’s Blog

Oppression of Minorities in Bangladesh

Minority repression and extra judicial killings has not stop in Bangladesh. Minority repression is a common feature in Bangladesh. Almost every day here happening minority torture. Ms.Radha Rani Halder (28) in Shoriotpur was gang raped recently. We knew our great patriotic journalist Manik Saha was killed by bomb attacked in 2004. Another honest journalist Diponker Chakraborty from Bogura was killed by terrorists. From Faridpur promising journalist Goutam Saha was killed. Principle Gopal Krishna Muhury was killed by gun shoot. As a Bangalee peoples everybody knows Purnima gang raped of in Sirajgonj. And it was the preplanned incidents. No actual investigation has happed and still not give punish to perpetrators of at least 15 indigenous community leader including Alfred Soren, Choles Richil murderer. (See:http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=865).

We know in Bangladesh has no actual democracy, rule of law, education. Most of the peoples are living very poor situation. Gross problem is that, constitutionally Islam is the only one religion. But, in Bangladesh have living Muslim, Hindus, Christians and Buddhist. Though, we had got secular constitution after independence led by father of the nation Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the killings of Bongobondhu, General Zia and General Ershad were broken the main constitution.

This is Latest incidents of minority repression in Bangladesh. Perpetrators attacked four Hindu families, vandalized their deities while attackers tried to occupy cremation ground belonging to Hindus on 3rd July, 09 at Palash Upazila of Narsingdi District. 10 persons including women and children were seriously injured due to abrupt attack. On last Saturday night this unfortunate incident occurred at the houses of Dhirendra and Monindra Chandra Barman at village–Charsindhu. At the relevant time the perpetrators destroyed and thrown away building materials into deep river kept for construction of cremation ground. The injured persons are reported to be a) Dhirendra Chandra Barman, b) Ms.Anjali Rani Barman, c) Ms.Niyati Rani Barman, d) Ms.Hinruni Barman, e) Sunil Chandra Barman, f) Kalu Chandra Barman, g) Monindra Chandra Barman, h) Monindra Chandra Barman.

Two victims have been admitted to local Hospital as their conditions are reported to be precarious. On Saturday last local 15-16 land grabbers with the leadership of Joynal, Ismail and Babul armed with deadly weapons attacked the religious places of Hindus, looted cash, gold ornaments, and mobile sets worth Taka 1,50,000/- and destroyed building materials kept for reconstruction of cremation ground. It is also alleged that the local Member of Parliament – Anwar Ashrab inaugurated foundation stone for the religious place belonging to Priyatosh and Nikhil Barman on 15th July, 09 and thereafter the organizers started construction of cremation ground for Hindus. Local Police deployed and as a result constant anxiety prevailing amongst the Hindus. Local Upazilla Chairman Fakrul Islam, ASP Circle and other Awami League leaders visited the spot. Police was arrested one person involved.

We hope that, present government should take immediate action against minority and indigenous persecution. And our demands is that, should punished the all perpetrators. But why, now there is a Democratic government have. So, what and where is the problem to stop minority torture and extra judicial killings? Please let us to be united and fight and presser to the present government for stop minority repression and state torture. Otherwise, minority torture and state torture will not stop.

On the other hand, On 26-27 July, 2009 over two hundred members of the indigenous community two-day long march were finished in Naogaon town to protest attacks on indigenous families.The march was organised under the banner of Jatiya Adibashi Parishad (JAP) after a gang led by Nur Hosssain Master of Soraigachhi attacked the houses of some 74 families including 54 indigenous families at Katirpur on June 12. They torched, damaged and looted the houses and also randomly beat up indigenous men, women and children during the attack.

Since the attack, some 300 members of the affected families have been left without homes, and the local administration has not come forward to help them, the protesters allege. On the first day yesterday, the protesters walked some 30 kilometres from Soraigachhi in Porsha to Mohadevpur upazila sadar. They will be joined by 300 more people this morning as they begin the march to Naogaon town. At Naogaon they will submit a memorandum to the local administration. The protesters are carrying traditional bows and arrows to show that they will fight for their demands for security and protection of their ancestral lands, JAP leaders said.

They have meanwhile placed forward a nine-point demand which include demands for their rights and security, the arrest of Nur Hossain Master and his accomplices and the removal of the officer-in-charge of Porsha police station as the OC, they allege, is joining hands with the land grabbers.Their demands also include constitutional recognition, formation of a land commission and a separate ministry for plain land indigenous people.

Why still in Bangladesh have been going minority and indigenous repression? Bangladesh Awami League has now in power. Always they are getting the vote of minority and indigenous without some extra cases. We have passed 38 years from our independence.

On Saturday police only broke into the houses of minorities and vandalize the houses and roughly beaten the woman and children said locals

As a Hindu minority Prodip Ghosh went to the police station to file a complain against police, police denied to take any complain, said Prodip Ghosh

Local UP chairman Abdul Kaium said as I went to the place of incident , I saw the house was vandalized and the door was broken

Local police chief said police went there to search criminals but as they did not co operate the police broke into the house .

Group Photo with Dr. Neem Chandra Bhowmik

Dhaka – Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik, chairman of Applied Physics Department of Dhaka University (DU) has named as the new Bangladesh ambassador to Nepal, said government source

Government took a sharp decision. Prof Neem is an intellectual and people like him should represent the country. His representation in Europe or American countries can bring a positive change in diplomatic relations, said Arnab Tagore a human rights activist

He is also the president of Bangladesh Muktijodha Foundation, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad. During last decade he has played a vital role in protecting the rights of the minorities in Bangladesh as an active part of of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad.

During the military backed interim government Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik was falsely accused in two cases filed in connection with the August violence on Dhaka University (DU) campus, was sent to jail yesterday after he surrendered before a Dhaka court.

For only the Indian Muslims, there are the The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1937 which gives the Muslims in the right to marriage, dower, divorce, maintenance, gift, waqf and inheritance. But for the Hindus in Bangladesh, which is a country right next to India and have a majority or Muslims do not have any law supporting the Hindus and the minorities but have against it.

One of that is the Vested Property Act which was actually made by the leader or the Father of the Country, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who made the law that if any person, a Hindu left the country to India, then the governement had the right to take over the property that was owned by that Hindu. The pronounced that if you go to India, you are the country’s enemy but if you go to Pakistan or any other country, you are not considered to be enemy of the country.

So, still why do the Muslims in India consider themselves minority and still want more benefit? Did they get the same hardships that the Hindus are getting in Bangladesh and many other Middle East countries like Pakistan and Afganistan? They do not even have the same factors that they are watching. But still why do they want more and more freedom? Do they want to stop their worship that the Hindus are doing and people like me who had seen all those know about it all. Yeah it might have changed a little bit now with the new government, but why was it even stopped at the first place? What if the Muslims in India were not able to celebrate their Eid like us who can’t celebrate our Durga Puja?

A Buddhist Zadi plundered in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazaar district

On 13 June at night an ancient Zadi situated on top of Nilla Bazaar hill has been broken. Nilla is 12 miles north of Teknaf (Kayoukchoung) in the district of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. It is not yet known whether it was an act of zealotry or was it merely plundered in search of treasure.

Adivasi village burnt-down in Porsha upazila of Naogaon district

On 12th June 2009, the land-grabbers attacked an Adivasi village at Porsha upazila of Naogaon district and burnt-down 74 houses. At least four hundred people assembled with grievous weapons under the leadership of one Nur Hossain Master and his son Nazrul Haque and attacked village Khatirpur Upar-Sonadanga in Chhaor union.

Clash between Jumma and Bengali settlers in Ramgarh

On 14 June 2009 clash between Jumma villagers and Bengali settlers occurred at Jalia Para under Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachari district. It is learnt that Bengali settlers from Jalia Para cluster village have been trying to occupy the land of Jumma villagers at Baroitali area of Baroitali mouza and Hafchari union under Ramgarh upazila. Baroitali area is around 8 kms far from Jalia Para cluster village.

A Jumma youth shot in Rangamati

On 13 June 2009 around 8.00 p.m. a Jumma youth named Kallol Chakma (23), s/o Prabhat Chakma of Banarupa in Rangamati town was shot by unidentified miscreants at Samataghat under Banarupa area.

The  Perpetrators leave him in a senseless condition .Later on the local people rescued him and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital .Until now no case was filed regarding this brutal attack on Hindu Minority Political Leader.

We are worried about the siutaion of this Hindu Minority political leader. we urge to the Bangladesh government to insure the security of this Hindu Minority political leader and his family . We do appeal to Mr,Sitangshu Guha of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council USA) to talk to the international community to insure the situation in Bangladesh ,where any one can prctise his own religion and take part in any poilitcal activity freely and without any fear.We urge to the concerned person of USCRIF Mr.Steven Snow to take a note on this brutal attack . We demand to Home minister Of Bangladesh government to take necessary actions to secure the security and rights of this Hindu Minority political leader .

With thanks

William gomes

www.persecutionbd.org

Muslim Extremism in Bangladesh

The Sariot Pur representative of The Daily Prothom Alo Mr. Sottojit Ghosh was threatened to kill by the Local Muslim Mayor Abdul Rob
Munshi. On 18-01-09 last Sunday evening from cell number+88 01712732501 he was threatened to kill. Relating to this a General
Diary was filed in Palong Police station. Mr,Sottojit Ghosh was threatened to kill because he published news which goes against Local
Muslim Mayor Abdul Rob Munshi.

On last 16th January a meeting was held against the war criminal and with the demands of local freedom fighters in Upazilla parishod. The organizers invited the Local Muslim Mayor Abdul Rob Munshi but he did not come to the meeting. Instead of attending to the meeting he spread bad thing about the honorable freedom fighters. Relating to this one news was published in Daily Prothom Alo (18-1-09) For this news subsequently this Hindu Minority journalist was threatened to kill by the Local Muslim Mayor Abdul Rob Munshi.

CDA demands to the present government to deal with any kinds of threat against the minorities of Bangladesh as soon as possible. We also request to the Internatonal leaders to bring t this issue to USCRIF, Minority forum of UN and enforce Bangladesh government to take actions against the perpetrator as soon as possible.

With Thanks
William Gomes
www.persecutionbd.org

২০০১ এর উপাত্ত অনুসারে, বাংলাদেশের মোট জনসংখ্যার মাত্র ৯ শতাংশ ছিল হিন্দু ধর্মাবলম্নী। মোট জনসংখ্যার মাত্র নয় শতাংশ মানুষ যদি আঃ লীগে ভোটও দেয়, তাহলে কোন ভাবেই আঃ লীগ জয়ী হতে পারেনা। এর মানে, এই হলো বাংলাদেশ সরকার গঠনে আঃ লীগকে ভোট সংখ্যা গরিষ্ঠতায় আংশিক বা পূর্ণাংগভাবে জয়ী হতে হলে, অবশ্যই অন্যান্য ধর্মাবলম্বীদেরও সহযোগী থাকতেই হবে।

কিন্তু, দূর্ভাগ্য হলেও সত্যি, ২০০১ সালে সবচেয়ে বেশি হেনস্থা হতে হয়েছিল একদল মানুষদের যাদের ধর্ম ছিল হিন্দু। হত্যা, সম্পত্তি লুন্ঠন, অকথিত অত্যাচার ও গণধর্ষনের মতো বেশ ভয়াবহ অপরাধ উঠে আসে কোন এক দল রাজনৈতিক দলগোষ্ঠির কর্মীদের সাহায্যে। তাদের অপরাধ, তারা মালাউন। তারা আঃ লীগের ভোট ব্যাংক। ভোট যদি নাগরিক মৌলিক অধিকার হয়, তবে আঃ লীগকে ভোট দেওয়াও কোন অপরাধ নয়। তবে, এর শাস্তি হিন্দুসহ সমস্ত সংখ্যালঘুদের কেন দিতে হবে? মানবতা বিরোধী এই অসুস্থ মানসিকতার আসল হোতা কারা? তাদেরই বা কেন বিচার হলো না? আপনার বা আমার কারো কিছু হয় নি বলে মুখে কলুপ এটে কতক্ষণ? নারকীয় অতি অল্প কিছু সত্য দৃশ্য দেখুন,

বিস্তারিত

বাংলাদেশের যেকোন রাজনৈতিক দল সংখ্যালঘুদের ও তাদের স্বার্থ সংক্রান্ত মুখ ভরা বুলি থাকলেও বাস্তবে তার কোন প্রতিফলন দেখতে পাওয়া যায় না। শুধু সংখ্যালঘু কেন, কতো সাধারণ মানুষ হেনস্তা হয়েছেন। অনেকেই বলেন, বাংলাদেশের সংখ্যা লঘুদের জামাই আদরে রাখা হয়েছে। আমি শুনি আর হাসি। সরকারী বড় কোন পোস্টে কতজন সংখ্যালঘু রয়েছে, বলুন তো? দেখাতে পারবেন, বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাসে কোনো সংখ্যালঘু কি কখনো প্রধান মন্ত্রী হয়েছেন, বা প্রেসিডেন্ট বা স্পিকার? আমাদের নিজেদের ভাগ্যকে ধন্যবাদ দেওয়া উচিত। বাংলাদেশে এখনো সংখ্যালঘু ভিত্তিক কোন উগ্র সম্প্রদায়ের উথ্থান ঘটেনি। ভুলে গেলে চলবে না, সময়ের সাথে সাথে অত্যাচারিত মানুষদের ভাষা প্রতিবাদ কঠোর হয়ে আসে। ভৌগলিক দিক থেকে বিবেচনা করলে বাংলাদেশের প্রায় সব অংশই ভারত দ্বারা পরিবেষ্টিত। নিজামীর ভাষায়, “বাংলাদেশ ভারতের তাঁবেদার রাষ্ট্র বানানোর চক্রান্ত চলেছে” লিংকটা দাও। সঠিকভাবে নির্বাচনপূর্ব ও পরবর্তি সময়গুলো সংখ্যালঘু ও সবার মানবাধিকার সঠিকভাবে পালন না করলে, আমাদের অনেক বেশি মূল্য দিতে হতে পারে।

একগাদা মানুষের অভিশাপ হাহাকার হয়ে পিছু লাগবে।

In considering the previous electoral violence in Bangladesh, we note with concern that an evident repetition of violence is taking place. The world community does not want to see the scenario of Oct 2001 election attacks on the religious minorities during this election. Liberation demands the safety of the religious minorities. All the political parties should clarify their policy against any discriminations and persecutions on the religious minorities. 

A further point of concern is regarding the Chittagong Hill Tracts.  Since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1997, it is clear that insignificant action has been taken to implement the commitments of this agreement.  We are aware that military bases remain in the area and that the transfer of settlers to this region continues unabated.  

As a Human Rights organisation and an NGO we condemn these atrocities and urge the government and political parties to reach an agreement which ensures the prevention and curtailment of the harassment and intimidation of religious minorities and women if the emergency is withdrawn. 

MAGGIE BOWDEN

Name of the victims:

1) Ms.Durapati Mondal (85) wife of Late Shashi Mondal

2) Ms.Jharna Rani Sarkar (45)

3) Ms.Madhabi Bhattacharjee (52)

Name of the perpetrators:

1) Salauddin sultan (40) son of Hajee Md. Seraj.

2) Md. Shajahan (42) son of late Abdul Rahim Bepari

3) Md. Latif (50) son of late Abdul Rahim Bepari

4) Md. Raisuddin (42) son of Late Rafique Uddin.

5) Md. Liton (35) son of Hajee Md. Momtazuddin and unknown 20 others.

Date of occurrence: 5^th of December, 2008 at about 8 A.M

Damage caused to deity’s property: 1,00,000/- taka .

Nature of crime : Land grabbing’s and forceful eviction.

It is alleged that on last Friday afternoon the land grabber namely Sajahan, Salauddin Sulltan, Ramizuddin, Liton, Sumon, Abdul Latif and more unknown 20/25 hoodlums attacked the minority inhabitants of the deity’s property. Some Hindu inhabitants – Ms.Durapati Mandal (85) wife of late Shashi Mondal, Ms. Jharna Rani Sarkar and Ms.Madhabi Bhattacharjee tried to resist the hoodlums, but they have been overpowered. The hoodlums looted the house and demolished it. They have also stolen away iron pillars and wood cost amounting to Taka 1,00,000/- kept for puja purpose.

After investigation it is found that the hood lumps demolished two storied building belonging to deity’s property a sign board was hanged on the spot in the name of six land grabbers. As a result Ms.Durapati Mondal burst into tears. Ms. Durapati states – “I came this house as wife of late Shashi Mondal seventy years ago. This temple was dedicated for sheba puja by a registered deed No.2735 dated 25.08.1945 by the then Zemindar – Devendra Kishore Raskhit in the name of 1) Aditya Bhattacharjee, 2) Gopal Bhattacharjee, 3) Shidesh Bhattacharjee, 4) Radha Raman Majumdar and 5) Dinesh Bhattacharjee.” Since then the Hindu shebaits were performing sheba puja as per contents of the deed or transfer dated 25.08.1945.

Police also arrested 1) Salauddin Sultan (40) son of Hajee Md. Seraj, 2) Md. Sahajahan (42) son of late Abdul Rahim Bepari and 3) Latif (50) son of Late Abdujl Rahim Bepari under section 143/447/379/428/506 of Penal code.

Dear Frineds, before the forth coming pairlament election minority persecution are growing .Please keep in your mind there are 64 puja mondop in that locality.

Please call , the  IG of police  Bangladesh that will help the victims:  Mobile :+8801713373000.

Please keep in mind your one simple call can bring them hope.

http://www.bangladeshihindu.com/

[William Gomes is a Catholic Human rights activist, freelance journalist and the Executive Director of the Human rights organization “Christian Development Alternative(CDA). Visit: www.persecutionbd.org ,Email:CDA.exe@gmail.com, Cell:+8801912342809]