Bhubaneswar: Minority Hindu community in Bangladesh facing the worst ever violence unleashed by the majority community after the infamous 2001 massacre. The anti-Hindu riots in the eastern neighbor took a new political turn Saturday when BSP supremo made a big statement on the on-going turmoil in Bangladesh.
In Lucknow, BSP Chief Mayawati said, “Hindus are becoming victims of crimes in large numbers in the neighbouring country Bangladesh. Most of them are Dalits and people of weaker sections …. Congress party is silent and now shouting ‘Be careful’ only for Muslim votes. In this matter , Congress, Samjawadi Party and it supporters are two side of same coin. In such a situation, the central government led by BJP should fulfill its responsibility. So that the Dalit class people who are becoming victims of exploitation do not have to suffer…. Or they should be brought back to India, because of mistake of congress, they are suffering losses.”
REALITY CHECK OF MAYAWATI’S STATEMENT
A glance at the Bangladesh Census 2011 shows the total Hindu population at 12,299,9405 (12.29 cr). And as per Dalit initiatives in Bangladesh report, the estimated total scheduled caste and other excluded community among the Hindus is 70 per cent or 8.6 cr.
A study of census data shows Hindu population size shrinking over the decades. Hindu population was
· 28 per cent in 1941
· 22.7 per cent in 1951
· 18.5 per cent in 1961
· 13.5 per cent in 1974
· 12.1 per cent in 1981
· 10.5 per cent in 1991
· 9.2 per cent in 2001
· 8.5 per cent in 2011.
A look at the above census data reveals that majority of Hindu polulation in Bangladesh are from Dalit and most backward community.
In the given backdrop Mayawati plays the caste card to the hilt to target political opponent Congress and Samajwadi Party, who of late have been seen appropriating the Dalit messiah from BSP.
She is also putting the BJP in dock by asking immediate succour to the dalit victims in Bangladesh.
HOW GRAVE BANGLADESH SITUATION?
It seems the irony of Indian democracy at its zenith. When scenario for minorities in the neighbouring country has been worsening, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are yet to debate over the grave issue to send a strong message across the globe, and especially to Bangladesh.
As on date, the Indian Parliament has witnessed 2 questions on enormity of Bangladesh Hindus.
· One by RJD Rajya Sabha MP Amarendra D Singh and another by BJP Lok Sabha MP from SC constituency Shahajanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
· The reply of MEA S Jaishankar has been the following
· “Government have seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and of attacks on temples/ religious places, including in the month of August 2024, across Bangladesh.
· Government have taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh.
· Reports of attacks on temples and puja mandaps also came to light during the recent Durga Puja festival in Bangladesh.
· Government had expressed its serious concerns regarding the attack on a Puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024.
· Following these attacks, the Government of Bangladesh had issued instructions for providing special security including deployment of Army and Border Guards Bangladesh to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja.
· The High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh closely.
· The primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh.
BUT LOOK WHO IS TALKING BIG?
With the Congress-led INDI alliance’s insistence on discussion on the US bribery charge on Adan is paralyzing thefunctions of both houses of Parliament, here is how the British Parliament had witnessed a debate on attack on Hindus in Bangladesh.
HOW GRAVE? UK PARLIAMENT DEBATES
Labour MP Barry Gardiner from Brent West asked an urgent question in the House of Commons to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs demanding a statement on the situation in Bangladesh and recent attacks on the Hindu community there. The debate saw participation of as many as 13 MPs.
Initiating the debate, Gardiner said the following that highlights the extent of enormity in Bangladesh.
· Since fall of the previous Government in August, Bangladesh has seen more than 2,000 incidents of violence, mostly targeting minority Hindu community.
· There are reports of police and army standing by, as more than 20 places of minority Hindu and Sufi worship were vandalised and their worshippers attacked.
· Worse came on Friday (Nov 28), extremist groups from the Jamaat-e-Islami party attacked two Hindu temples in Chittagong and conducted a campaign of orchestrated violence against the Hindu population.
· A leading Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has been arrested with charges of sedition. Moreover , bail was refused.
· Many of whose worshippers live in my constituency of Brent West and the surrounding areas of north-west London are very much concerned.
· On Nov 29, senior Bangladeshi journalist Munni Saha was taken into police custody following an attack on her car by a large mob in Dhaka, and released only under the provisions of the criminal code.
· Speaking Conservative MP from Harrow East Bob Blackman said in the House of commons I understand that two more were arrested over the weekend, and 63 monks have been denied access to the country.
· The clear issue is an attempt at the ethnic cleansing of Hindus from Bangladesh.
· He demanded “Will the Minister come out and condemn outright this violence against Hindus?”
· As per Liberal Democratic Party MP from Esher and Walton, Monica Harding, “The most recent Foreign Office human rights and democracy report lists Bangladesh as a “human rights priority” country and highlights –
· “Reports of harassment...particularly towards...Hindu minorities, often incited online.”
PRITI PATEL SHADOW SECY OF STATE
· The Conservative MP from Wilham, who has been appointed as the Shadow Foreign Secy from Nove 2024 has asked the following tough posers
· Will the Minister give details of the Government’s engagement with the Bangladesh Government on that particular matter?
· What discussions have taken place?
· Have we been robust in pursuing: the right to protect life; the prevention of violence and persecution; and, importantly, tolerance for religious belief?
· What efforts have the Government undertaken to build on the previous Government’s work to promote freedom of religion and belief in Bangladesh?
· Can the Minister say what discussions are taking place with other international partners to help restore the stability we desperately need to see in Bangladesh?
WHAT UK GOVT REPLIED?
Answering the debate, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Catherine West replied the following.
· Expressing concern, the Minister said some of the attacks are allegedly politically motivated and are of concern.
· That is why I had it at the top of my agenda when I met Professor Dr Yunus and why the effort was made to set up the special policing unit.
· The statement by Catherine West shows the decision of Bangladesh govt to set up Special Policing Unit was taken under pressure from UK govt. (because UK govt is giving aid worth 27 million pound sterling for a period of 5 yrs – 2023 -28)
· Our high commission is active—more than any other.
· We will be standing up for the rights of minority groups. UK has a long-standing commitment to the protection of human rights.
· UK champions freedom of religion or belief for all.
· We are working to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7, other multilateral foras, and bilateral.
· The Minister further added that she visited Bangladesh in November and had met Chief Adviser Professor Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain.
· “I discussed the full range of bilateral issues, including the importance of protecting religious minorities in Bangladesh.“
· The UK Government will continue to monitor the situation, including making representations from this House, and will engage with the interim Government in Bangladesh on the importance of freedom of religion or belief specifically as it affects the Hindu community, she emphasised.
· “We are aware of the statement of concern from the Indian Government following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a well-known Hindu leader, on sedition charges. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office desk is closely monitoring those developments, she replied.
BOTTOMLINE: The above facts and figures revealed on the floor of the House of Commons in UK shed light on the acute scenario the minority Hindus are bearing with in neighbouring Bangladesh. But the irony here is Indian Parliament is yet to initiate debate on the critical issue affecting minorities, mainly Hindus in Bangladesh, when UK Parliament saw it on last Tuesday.
