A coalition of overseas Bangladeshi Hindu Bengalis, has called for setting up protected, autonomous zones within the country to protect lives of minority communities.
The Global Bengali Hindu Coalition has demanded the establishment of autonomous zones within the country to protect the lives of minorities. “Establish protected zones in Hindu-majority regions to ensure the safety and security of minorities,” reads one of the coalition’s five demands.
Bengali Hindus of Bangladesh have faced attacks from Islamists, who have risen following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina regime following the quota reform protests led by students earlier this year.
In the immediate chaotic days following Hasina’s ouster, there was a string of reprisals on Hindus — seen by some as disproportionate supporters of her regime — as well as attacks on Muslim Sufi shrines by Islamist hardliners.
The coalition believes that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate, has failed to protect Bengali Hindus and other minorities.
Among other demands, the delegation has called for completing the unfinished population exchange from the 1947 Partition, which would facilitate the secure resettlement of displaced minorities. They have also urged a reassessment of peacekeeping contributions.
“Given the current hostile and pro-jihadist regime in Dhaka, we urge the Indian government to reconsider its strategy and align its contributions with democratic and humanitarian values,” their statement said.
Islamist groups have been emboldened to take to the streets after years of being suppressed, and have not only attacked Bengali Hindus, but have also attacked Bengali Christians, the nation’s hill tribes and the adivasi communities.
Additionally, the coalition also called for UN sanctions based on compliance with UN standards of conduct.
“We demand immediate, decisive action from global and Indian leadership to protect endangered Hindus, other religious minorities, indigenous people, and tribal groups under the hostile and pro-jihadist illegal government in Bangladesh,” they demanded.
“We (Hindus) have not been served justice in Bangladesh. Not even by the person who was considered the father of the nation – Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We want justice, now,” said an emotional Arun K. Dutta.
Sitangshu Guha was more blunt, stating, “India considers the Pakistani government hostile and deals with it accordingly. If India considers the Bangladeshi government hostile as well, it should deal with it in the same manner”.
The delegation included Sitangshu Guha from New York, Puspita Gupta from London, a member of the Labour Party and Dileep Karmarkar, a minority leader from Montreal, Canada, among others.
