For this reason, during the recent attack on the cultural center Chhayanat, musical instruments were destroyed. As opposition to India is increasing in Bangladesh, the crisis for Hindus is also increasing. If fundamentalist elements become partners in the new government to be formed in Bangladesh, then life there will become more difficult for Hindus and other minorities.
Cultural center Chhayanat attacked, musical instruments destroyed
Crisis on Hindus deepens as opposition to India increases
Life of minorities becomes difficult due to fundamentalist elements
Rajeev Sachan. The barbaric manner in which Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das was murdered in Maiman Singh district of Bangladesh is not the only incident which shows the plight of Hindus in this country and the danger facing them. They are in constant danger and it seems to be increasing further. It is not that only after the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina government in August last year, trouble fell on the Hindus and other minorities there. The truth is that since the partition of India, Hindus of Pakistan and then Bangladesh have never been able to live in peace. At the time of partition of India, the number of Hindus and especially Dalit Hindus was high in East Pakistan i.e. today's Bangladesh and the reason for this was Dalit leader Jogendra Nath Mandal.
He supported Jinnah's Muslim League believing that Dalits would be more secure and empowered in the newly formed country. He had more influence in East Pakistan. Mandal became the Law Minister of Pakistan, but with the death of Jinnah, the trend of neglect and oppression of Hindus started. Mandal resigned and quietly returned to Calcutta, but due to his assurances, the Hindus who remained there remained deceived. Harassment of Hindus continued in both parts of Pakistan. The process of Hindus from East Pakistan fleeing to India never stopped. When East Pakistan was fighting for its independence, the majority of the population migrating from there to India was Hindus.
After East Pakistan became Bangladesh, Hindus and other minorities heaved a sigh of relief, but their oppression did not reduce even in this newly formed country. Radical elements kept targeting him from time to time. Enemy property law also played a role in this. Under the cover of this law, it was easy to capture the lands of minorities. This law was made by Pakistan, but it remained in existence even after the formation of Bangladesh. Due to this law, lakhs of acres of land of Hindus and Buddhists have been captured. The anarchists capture their property by declaring it as enemy property through fake documents. Lakhs of cases related to lands of minorities and especially Hindus are pending in the courts. Although the Sheikh Hasina government made amendments to this law, they proved inadequate. It is believed that Hindus and other minorities found themselves safe in Sheikh Hasina's government, but this is true only to a certain extent.
Hindus were persecuted even during his reign. It is true that it was less than the Khaleda Zia regime. Because of this the migration of Hindus from there never stopped. The able-bodied Hindus kept going abroad and the poor kept running away to India. Sheikh Hasina controlled jihadi elements along with fundamentalist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami that persecute minorities. After the overthrow of their government, such elements are out of control there and that is why their repression has increased there in the last 16 months. The new student party formed after the coup is close to the ideology of political groups like NCP and Inquilab Manch, Jamaat-e-Islami. The student leader who was killed recently, Usman Hadi, belonged to Inquilab Manch. He was staunchly anti-India.
The current situation in Bangladesh looks as dangerous as it looked after the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina government. During that time there were fierce attacks on Hindus. Along with their houses, shops, temples were also targeted. At that time also, the head of the interim government, Mohammad Yunus, had given assurances for the protection of minorities and is giving them even now, but they are proving to be hollow. It is true that Bangladesh is not like Pakistan at present, but now there is a possibility of it becoming like that, because on the one hand, along with the elections, a referendum is to be held in February regarding the change in the Constitution and on the other, such elements are becoming vocal who want to make Bangladesh a completely Islamic country. Some are demanding implementation of Shariat.
The number of jihadi elements in Bangladesh has increased in the last few years. There, people supporting terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic State have increased rapidly. Instead of reining in such elements, the government of Mohammad Yunus worked to release them from jail. By doing this, he let out the genie of bigotry, which Sheikh Hasina used to keep locked. Due to this, the remaining secular values are also in danger. There women are being asked to wear burqa and singing and playing are being said to be haram.
For this reason, musical instruments were destroyed during the recent attack on the cultural center Chhayanat. As opposition to India is increasing in Bangladesh, the crisis for Hindus is also increasing. If fundamentalist elements become partners in the new government to be formed in Bangladesh, then life there will become more difficult for Hindus and other minorities.
(The author is an associate editor at Dainik Jagran)
Opinion: Waiting for necessary electoral reforms, disappointing to be limited to SIR process
Jagran Editorial: Well-worn allegations, Rahul Gandhi has nothing new to say
Opinion: In a society that embraces evil, newly married women have to face dowry harassment.
Thought: It was necessary to replace MNREGA, Lord Ram, change is the rule of life.
Jagran Editorial: Definition of Aravalli, it is necessary to calm the controversy
Thought: Free trade will open the way to progress
Thoughts: The Year of the World's Change
Jagran Editorial: Bangladeshi Hindus in crisis
विचार: सूरा सो पहचानिये, जो लरै दीन के हेत
Thought: Make India the leader of the world, possible only with the motto of 'Nation First'
Threat to India increases in Bangladesh, situation is worsening
SIR issue echoed in Bengal rally, PM cornered Mamata