ঐক্য 2018 Bangladesh Hindus: From The Devil Into The Deep Sea
Blog April 14, 2018 admin
Hindus in millions in Bangladesh are born to be persecuted by the majority Muslims ever since the division of India was accomplished in 1947 and again with division of Pakistan and with the creation of a new nation called Bangladesh in 1971. In 1971, the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh had a population of 75 millions, of which 19.7% were Hindus and other religious and ethnic minorities. Population census in 1972 showed fast demographical change as Hindu population declined at 0.1%. The genocide perpetrated by the Pakistan army with local Muslims in different parts of Bangladesh during liberation war in 1971 forced the Hindu refugee in millions to cross over to India. After liberation most of them returned, a tiny fraction stayed over and that may had attributed to the declining population? Bangladesh declared independence on 26 March 1971 but the freedom struggle continued for 9 months with all assistance made by India. On 16 December while Indian army occupied Dhaka, the war was over and Bangladesh became a free country. According to government claim, 3 millions of people were killed during liberation struggle, while 200,000 women were gang raped or murdered. In 1972, Ted Kennedy’s report on Bangladesh says that, 80% of the victims were Hindus. Brutal Pakistani army targeted Hindus and their houses were marked, ‘H’ with yellow patches!
------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 1 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 In November 2017, the Census shows Bangladesh population is 160 millions and Hindu and other religious minority population stands at 16 millions i.e. about 10% of the entire population. Question is why Hindu population is dwindling in Bangladesh? From 19.7% in 1972 to 10% in 2017, that means Hindu population has come down to 50% in just 45 years, why? And where are vanishing those minorities? Why the bloody sacrifices by Hindus in the freedom movement failed to receive any cognisance? How the Muslim rulers of Bangladesh could easily get rid of its own population, victim of liberation war and they never cried to bring them back from foreign land and gave their properties occupied by local Muslims back to them? To find the answer of those questions let’s look into scenarios in Pakistan. Pakistan was created in 1947 with a sizable percentage of religious minorities, which was about 30%. But in 2018 Pakistan being a failed state and a monolithic Islamic country has earned distinction for systematically driving out its minority non-Muslim population in order to restricting them at less than 1% and even those tiny sections of Hindus and Christians are routinely persecuted by Pakistani Muslim fundamentalists backed by its government. Bangladesh, once a part of Pakistan, exactly repeats the same Pakistani Islamist path. Where are those people going? Their destination is India! According to ‘Empires Last Casualty’, a book on Indian partition, 49 millions of non-Muslims origin, mainly Hindus were found missing from Bangladesh (East Pakistan) since 1947 and that number is increasing day by day as Hindus are being driven out from their ancestral lands by hook or crook! Unfortunately, the world is mysteriously silent about this huge exodus from Bangladesh, which can literally be called a ‘Silent Genocide‘ as perpetrated in Bangladesh! Why and how this has been happening? Answer is simple: This is a systematic process and in most cases, the State plays a vital role! After independence in last 47 years, thousands of Hindu temples and deities were destroyed and none was punished as yet, nor any government ever rebuilt any of those places of Hindu Gods? On the contrary, recently 500 mosques are to be built in 64 districts of Bangladesh with fund assistance made by Saudi Arabia to Sk Hasina government. Hindu lands and properties are often forcefully occupied by Muslims including government ministers and members of the parliament! Hindu minor girls are often violated and converted to Islam while the administration looks otherwise. Government had confiscated more than 3 million acres of Hindu lands and gave those properties to Muslims through the barbarian Enemy (vested) Property act of 1965? Hindus are lawfully treated as enemies of the state of Bangladesh. Hindus are framed by draconian laws and right to expression is curbed seriously. Rape and murder is used as a tool to inflict a sense of horror and to drive them out of Bangladesh! Hindu representation in armed forces and police and as well as government services are negligible! Prime Minister Sk Hasina could blatantly advocate for promotion of Islamist culture in a multi-religious country. Government under the influence of dreaded Islamist forces already completed the process of Islamisation of education syllabus. As part of her process of Islamisation of the country and establishing Sharia rules, Government is building thousands of mosques, but not a single temple or churches? The government never extended any favour for the Hindus! During all atrocities in last 10 years, government party cadres, ministers, representatives of the local bodies were directly involved and/or led the perpetrators to cause loot, destruction and sexual atrocities etc. to Hindus? All those factors are contributing ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 2 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 towards fleeing of Hindus from Bangladesh to neighboring India at a regular interval for the last 47 years and compelled Germany’s famous corporate consultant Bertelsmann’s Stilting to assess Bangladesh and branded it a Fascist country few weeks ago. In Muslim countries, non-Muslims are persona non grata and Bangladesh is not an exception! Driving out of Hindus are continuing unabated till such time I write this article! Persecution of Hindus is an open secret in Bangladesh and none cares for them at all. While Bangladesh government is entirely responsible for the plight of Hindus, India that helped building of this new nation can’t now wash its hands and evade its responsibility. Hindustan the land of Hindus called India has to look beyond its petty diplomatic necessity and commercial interests, she has to save its next door neighbours from the ongoing Islamist atrocities. Is anybody listening? The post has been written by Sitangshu Guha, senior human rights based in the USA. The views are of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the view of www.currentriggers.com. We have republished it in our www.hinduexistence.org in the link https://wp.me/pCXJT-93L বিক্রি ক্রা হবি অবপ িত সম্পবি রবিিার । ২৯ এবিল ২০১৮। সরকাবর জিম্মা থেকক অবপ িত সম্পবি িযজি মাবলকানায় থেকে থেওয়া হকে। অে িাৎ স্বাে িসংবি থেককাকনা িযজি িা সং া অবপ িত সম্পবি বককন থসখাকন িাবেঘর করকত পারকি। বিল্প-কারখানা, বিক্ষািবত ান, হাসপাতাল এসিও করা োকি। সরকাবর কম িচারীরাও থিাট থিᶁকে এই সম্পবি বকনকত পারকিন। এসি বিোন থরকখ অবপ িত সম্পবি িযি াপনা বিবেমালার খসো িস্তুত ককরকে ভূবম মন্ত্রণালয়। আইন মন্ত্রণালকয়র মতামত পাওয়ার পর তা থেকিট আকাকর িকাি করা হকি িকল িাবনকয়কেন ভূবম মন্ত্রণালকয়র সংবি কম িকতিারা।
এক কম িকতিা িকলন, অবপ িত সম্পবির থিাঝা আর িইকত চাইকে না সরকার। অবপ িত সম্পবি আসকল সরকাকরর সম্পবি নয়। সরকার এসি সম্পবির জিম্মাোর মাত্র। সরকার চায়, োরা এসি সম্পবির মাবলক তারা তাকের সম্পবি িুকঝ বনক। এর পরও থেসি সম্পবি অিবি োককি থসগুকলা িযিহাকরর থক্ষকত্র সরকাকরর িতিমান ও ভবিষ্যৎ স্বাে িককই গু쇁ত্ব থেওয়া হকি। এর পরও থেসি সম্পবি োককি থসগুকলা ায়ী ইিারার নাকম বিজি ককর থেওয়া হকি। িতিমাকন সরকাকরর েখকল োকা অবপ িত সম্পবির পবরমাণ হকে েুই লাখ ২০ হািার একর। এসি সম্পবির মাবলকানা োবি ককর আোলকত এক লাখ ১৯ হািার মামলা চলকে। ভূবমসবচি থমা. আব্দুল িবলল কাকলর কণ্ঠকক িকলন, ‘আমরা বিবেমালার খসো ককর আইন মন্ত্রণালকয় পাঠিকয়বে। থসখান থেকক বিকর একল বিবেমালা িকাি করা হকি।’ েত িতককর ষ্াকটর েিকক ভারত-পাবক ান েুকের সময় োরা সহায়-সম্পে থিকল িীিন বনকয় থেি তযাে ককরবেল, তাকের সম্পবিকক তখনকার পাবক ান সরকার ‘িতর쇁 সম্পবি’ থঘাষ্ণা ককরবেল। পকর স্বােীন িাংলাকেকি তা অবপ িত সম্পবি নাম পায়। ৫০ িেকরর থিবি সময় েকর এসি সম্পবির িযি াপনা চলকলও এর থকাকনা নীবতমালা বেল না। এই িেম নীবতমালা করা হকে। বকন্তু নীবতমালার বিবভন্ন অংি বনকয় বভন্নমত ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 3 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 িকাি ককরকেন িাংলাকেি বহ ু থিৌে বিস্টান ঐকয পবরষ্কের সাোরণ সম্পােক অযাডকভাককট রানা োিগুপ্ত। েত ১ মাচি বতবন কাকলর কণ্ঠকক িকলন, ‘থে উকেিয বনকয় ২০০১ সাকল অবপ িত সম্পবি িতযপ িণ আইন িণয়ন করা হকয়বেল তার িা িায়ন হয়বন। উকটা রাষ্ট্রীয় সুবিো পাওয়া কম িকতিা-কম িচারীকের ওই সম্পবি িাবপ্তর বিবে িণয়ন নতুন ককর সম্পবি আত্মসাকতর ষ্েেন্ত্র। এই খসো বিবেমালা িাবতল করা না হকল আমরা আিারও আক ালকন োি। কারণ খসো বিবেমালায় সরকাবর কম িকতিা-কম িচারীকের অবপ িত সম্পবি ায়ীভাকি িরাে থেওয়ার কো িলা হকয়কে। সরকাবর কম িকতিা-কম িচারীরা সমিায় সবমবত ককর অবপ িত সম্পবিকত িহু তল আিাবসক ভিন বনম িাণ করকত পারকিন। খসো এই বিবে ক্ষবতগ্র কের অবেকার পবরপ ী।’ এক িকের িিাকি রানা োিগুপ্ত িকলন, ‘সরকার এখকনা বিবেমালাঠট িকাি ককরবন। তকি আমরা খসো বিবেমালার বিবভন্ন অসংেবতর কো থিকনবে।’ সরকাবর কম িচারীকের অংিগ্রহণ োোও আকরা বিবভন্ন বিতবকিত বিষ্য় োককত পাকর িকল বতবন আিঙ্কা িকাি ককরন। খসো বিবেমালায় িলা হকয়কে, কমপকক্ষ ১৫ িের োᶁরা সরকাবর, আোসরকাবর ও স্বায়িিাবসত িবত াকন চাকবরকত রকয়কেন এ েরকনর কমপকক্ষ ১০ িন কম িচারী সমিায় সংেিন েকে বনকিকের আিাবসক িকয়ািকন িহু তল ভিন বনম িাকণর িনয অবপ িত সম্পবি ায়ী িক াি বনকত পারকিন। তাᶁরা থমকরাপবলটন িা বসঠট করকপাকরিন এলাকায় সকি িাচ্চ ৬৬ িতাংি এিং থিলা ও োনা পে িাকয় সকি িাচ্চ এক একর অকৃবষ্ অবপ িত সম্পবি িক াি পাকিন। িনিবত সকি িাচ্চ হার হকি থমকরাপবলটন ও বসঠট করকপাকরিন এলাকায় সকি িাচ্চ পাᶁচ িতাংি এিং থিলা ও োনা সেকরর থক্ষকত্র সকি িাচ্চ আট িতাংি। খসোয় আকরা িলা হকয়কে, কারখানা িা িাবের কাকে অবপ িত সম্পবি োককল ওই িাবে িা কারখানার মাবলককক অবপ িত সম্পবি ায়ী িক াি থেওয়া হকি। এই সম্পবি কৃবষ্ িা অকৃবষ্ োই থহাক না থকন তা বনে িাবরত িািারমূকলয সংবি কের কাকে বিজি করা োকি। িািারমূলয বনে িারকণর িনয অবতবরি থিলা িিাসককক (রািস্ব) সভাপবত ককর সাত সেকসযর থিলা কবমঠট েিন করার বিোন রাখা হকয়কে। সংবি উপকিলার এবস লযান্ড ওই কবমঠটর সেসয সবচকির োবয়ত্ব পালন করকিন। এ োো সেসয বহকসকি োককিন েণপূতি, ানীয় সরকার, িন বিভাে ও ভূবমসংবি কম িকতিারা। সংবি সািকরজিস্ট্রাকরর অবিস থেকক ি াবিত একই েরকনর িবম থকনা-থিচার তেয সংগ্রহ ককর েে িািারমূলয বনে িারণ করা হকি। সম্পবির থে োম আসকি সংবি রা তা িাবষ্ িক ৫ িতাংি সুেসহ বতনঠট সমান বকজ কত পবরকিাে করকত পারকিন। এ থক্ষকত্র িেম বকজ র টাকা েয় মাকসর মকেয পবরকিাে করকত হকি। পুকরা টাকা ১৮ মাকসর মকেয পবরকিাে না করকল িক াি িাবতল করা হকি। থেকির থেককাকনা িহরাঞ্চকল িবম, িাবে িা ফ্ল্যাট আকে এমন থকাকনা িযজি িা সংেিন আিাবসক িকয়ািকন িহরাঞ্চকল থকাকনা েরকনর অকৃবষ্ সরকাবর সম্পবি িা অবপ িত সম্পবি িক াি পাকিন না। বিবেমালায় িলা হকয়কে, সরকার িযিহার করকে িা সরকাকরর িযিহাকরর িনয িকয়ািনীয় পবরমাণ সম্পবি সংরক্ষণ ককর অিবি সি সরকাবর সম্পবি ায়ী িক াি থেওয়ার মােযকম বনষ্পবি করা হকি। েত বেন ায়ী িক াি না থেওয়া হকি তত বেন একসনা িক াি থেওয়া োকি। অবপ িত সম্পবি িক াি থেওয়ার থক্ষকত্র একই থহাজডং িা খবতয়াকনর সহ-অংিীোরকক অগ্রাবেকার থেওয়া হকি। সহ-অংিীোর না োককল বেবন সরকাবর পাওনা পবরকিাকের মােযকম থভােেখল করকেন বতবন অগ্রাবেকার পাকিন। এসি অগ্রাবেকারিাপ্তরা সম্পবির বনে িাবরত িািারমূকলযর ১০ িতাংি কম মূকলয অবপ িত সম্পবি বকনকত পারকিন। থেককাকনা সরকাবর, আোসরকাবর ও স্বায়িিাবসত সং াকক অবপ িত সম্পবি িক াি থেওয়া োকি। থিসরকাবর উকেযাকে হাসপাতাল িবত ার িনয অকৃবষ্ িবম িক াি থেওয়া োকি। বিক্ষািবত ান, েমীয় উপাসনালয়,
------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 4 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 এবতমখানা, আশ্রম, কির ান, শ্মিানঘাট াপকনর িনয ায়ী িক াি থেওয়া হকি। এ থক্ষকত্র বনে িাবরত িািারমূকলযর ১০ িতাংি োম বেকত হকি। খসো বিবেমালা অনুোয়ী, িাতীয় পে িাকয় বনি অিোকনর িনয বিকিষ্ভাকি স্বীকৃত িযজিকক আিাবসক িকয়ািকন থমকরাপবলটন িা বসঠট করকপাকরিন এলাকায় সকি িাচ্চ ৮ িতাংি এিং থমকরাপবলটন ও বসঠট করকপাকরিন এলাকার িাইকর সকি িাচ্চ ১২ িতাংি অকৃবষ্ সরকাবর সম্পবি বনে িাবরত িািারেকর ায়ী ইিারা থেওয়া োকি। িহর এলাকার িাইকর বিল্প াপকনর িনয আকিেনকারী েবে নূযনতম িকয়ািকনর বতন- চতুে িাংি বনকি সংগ্রহ ককর োককন তাহকল ওই িবমসংলগ্ন অবপ িত সম্পবি োককল তাᶁর কাকে তা বিজি করা োকি। থেসি অবপ িত সম্পবি সরকাকরর িযিহাকরর িনয সংরক্ষণ করা হকি তা অবপ িত সম্পবি বহকসকি োককি না। এসি সম্পবি সরকাবর সম্পবি বহকসকি ১/ক নম্বর খবতয়ানভু ি করা হকি। অবপ িত সম্পবি বিজি করকত হকল তা উন্মুি েরপকত্রর মােযকম সম্পন্ন করকত হকি। থস থক্ষকত্র সরকারিোকনর অনুমবত বনকত হকি। এই বিবেমালা কাে িকর হওয়ার সকে সকে আকের সি সাকুিলার, স্মারক, বনকেিিনা িাবতল হকি। রাঙামাঠট, িা রিান ও খােোেবে োো থেকির অনয সি থিলার িনয এ বিবেমালা িকোিয হকি। িকয়ািনীয় থক্ষকত্র এই বিবেমালা পবরিতিকনর এখবতয়ার সরকাকরর হাকত রাখা হকয়কে। বিি িাচি বহন্দবু ের জিয আতবের: শাহবরয়ার ক্বির
িাংলাকেকির বহ ু েম িািলম্বীকের িনয বনি িাচন আতকঙ্কর বিষ্য় িকল ম িয ককরকেন একািকরর ঘাতক োলাল বনমূ িল কবমঠটর সভাপবত িাহবরয়ার কবির। শুিিার সন্ধ্যায় চট্টগ্রাকমর মুসবলম ইন্সঠটঠটউট হকল িাংলাকেি বহ ু থিৌে বি ান ঐকয পবরষ্ে চট্টগ্রাম বিভােীয় সমন্বয় কবমঠটর মহাসমাকিকি িোন অবতবের িিকিয বতবন এ ম িয ককরন। িাহবরয়ার কবির িকলন, অকনককর িনয বনি িাচন উৎসিমুখর। বকন্তু িাংলাকেকির বহ ু সম্প্রোকয়র িনয বনি িাচন উৎসকির নয়, আতকঙ্কর। অতীকতও বনি িাচকনর পর তারা সবহংসতার বিকার হকয়কে। “আমরা আিঙ্কা করবে, অতীকতর থে থকাকনা সমকয়র থচকয় ২০১৮ সাকল থিবি সবহংসতা হকি। এর বিকার হকি সংখযালঘু সম্প্রোয়। আিঙ্কার কো িলবে, বকন্তু এখন পে ি থকাকনা কাে িকর পেকক্ষপ থেবখবন।” বতবন িকলন, “বনি িাচন কবমিনকক আমরা িকলবে। এটা তাকেরই বনজিত করকত হকি থেন একঠটও সবহংসতার ঘটনা না ঘকট। “সিাই িলকে িবতবনবেত্বমূলক বনি িাচকনর কো। ষ্েেন্ত্র হকে, িলা হকে- বিএনবপ-িামায়াত না একল ইনকরলুবসভ বনি িাচন হকি না। আবম িে কবর এই েুই থকাঠট সংখযালঘু মানুষ্কক িাে বেকয় বকভাকি ইনকরলুবসভ বনি িাচন হকি?” ‘েুই থিনাকরল’ এর কাকির িল পুকরা িাবত থভাে করকে োবি ককর িাহবরয়ার কবির িকলন, একািকর কী আমরা েুে ককরবে স্বােীন িাংলাকেকি ‘রাষ্ট্রেম’ ি রাখার িনয? এখকনা েবে রাষ্ট্রেম িোকক তাহকল পাবক ান ভাোর কী েরকার বেল? “সিাই েম িবনকয় রািনীবত করকে, থক করকে না? িরং এ বনকয় িবতকোবেতা চলকে। থমৌলিােী থচতনা বি াকরর থক্ষত্র ততবর করকেন আর োবি করকিন থমৌলিাে-সন্ত্রাসিাে থনই, তা থতা হয় না।” সরকাকরর ‘মকডল মসজিে’ িককল্পর ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 5 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 সমাকলাচনা ককর িাহবরয়ার কবির িকলন, সরকাবরভাকি কখকনা মসজিে-মাদ্রাসা হয় না। ইসলাকম আকে মসজিে করকি িযজি িা থো ী। সরকাকরর টাকায় থেকি মাদ্রাসা হকত পাকর না। এটা সংবিোকনও থনই, ইসলাকমও থনই।
থরাবহো সংকট িাংলাকেকির িনয বিরাট হু মবক উকেখ ককর িাহবরয়ার কবির িকলন, রাখাইকন েণহতযা হকয়কে এটা সতয। বকন্তু থরাবহো কযাকম্প থমৌলিাকের বিষ্িাস্প েোকে িামায়াত ও থহিািত। থসখাকন তারা এক হািার মাদ্রাসা ককরকে। “তাকের লক্ষয এক লাখ থরাবহোকক থিহাবে িানাকি। এটাকত শুেু িাংলাকেি নয় সারা েবক্ষণ এবিয়া ঝুᶁ বককত পেকি।” সরকাকরর উকেকিয িাহবরয়ার কবির িকলন, চার মূলনীবত রাখকিন আিার রাষ্ট্রেম িও রাখকিন, তা হকি না। থোᶁিাবমল বেকয় িাংলাকেি চলকি না। েতই আ াভািন হকত চান বিএনবপ-িামায়াত-থহিািত আপনাকের থভাট থেকি না। কারণ আওয়ামী লীে পাবক ান থভকেকে। আমাকের ওপর আ া রাখুন। “এটা িাংলাকেকির অজ কত্বর লোই। শুেু বহ ু থিৌে বি াকনর নয়।”
------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 6 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 িোন িিা পবরষ্কের সাোরণ সম্পােক অযাডকভাককট রানা োিগুপ্ত িকলন, “আমাকের সংবিোকন েম িবনরকপক্ষতাও আকে আিার েম িতন্ত্রও আকে। সংবিোনকক বহকপাকিঠটক 쇂কপ থরকখ থেিকক েণতাবন্ত্রক রাষ্ট্র িকল িচার করা হাসযকর ও িতারণার সাবমল। “৪৭ িের পর আমরা অজ কত্বর সংককট পকেবে। কারণ এই থেকি থকাকনা রািননবতক েকলর ওপর েমীয় সংখযালঘুরা আ া রাখকত পারকে না।” রানা োিগুপ্ত িকলন, “আমাকের োবি বনকয় আওয়ামী লীকের সাোরণ সম্পােক ওিায়েুল কাকেকরর সাকে েুইিার, িাতীয় পাঠটির এরিাে সাকহকির সাকে চারিার এমনবক িাম থমাচিা ও বিএনবপর বমিিা িখ쇁ল ইসলাকমর সাকেও অকলাচনা হকয়কে। “আমাকের ৫ েিা ও ৭ েিা েলগুকলাকক বনি িাচনী ইিকতহাকর রাখকত হকি। থে েল রাখকি তাকের থভাট থেি। েবে থকউই তা পূরকণ িবতশ্রুবত না থেয় তাহকল থভাট িিিন োো আর থকাকনা উপায় োককি না।” সংসে বনি িাচনকক সামকন থরকখ পবরষ্কের পক্ষ থেকক থে পাᶁচ েিা থেয়া হকয়কে তার মকেয আকে- সংখযালঘু স্বাে িবিকরােী কাকি বলপ্ত কাউকক মকনানয়ন না থেয়া, ৭ েিার পকক্ষ বনি িাচনী অেীকার থঘাষ্ণা, সংসকে েমীয়-িাবতেত সংখযালঘুকের আনুপাবতক িবতবনবেত্ব বনজিত করা, বনি িাচকনর আকে পকর সংখযালঘুকের বনরাপিা বনজিত করা এিং বনি িাচকনর আকেই সংখযালঘু মন্ত্রণালয় ও কবমিন েিন। এোো পবরষ্কের পকক্ষ িাতীয় ঐকযমকতর ৭ েিা োবিনামাও থপি করা হয় মহাসমাকিকি। মহাসমাকিকি উকবােক বহকসকি িিিয রাকখন পাি িতয চট্টগ্রাম িনসংহবত সবমবতর থনতা স্বতন্ত্র সাংসে উষ্াতন তালুকোর পবরষ্কের বিভােীয় সমন্বয় কবমঠটর আহ্বায়ক পবরমল কাব থচৌেুরীর সভাপবতকত্ব মহাসমাকিকি অবতবে িিা বেকলন ঐকয নযাপ সভাপবত পঙ্কি ভট্টাচাে িয। এোো িিিয রাকখন ঐকয পবরষ্কের থকন্দ্রীয় থিবসবডয়াম সেসয ড. জিনকিাবে বভক্ষু এিং বনম িল থরািাবরও।
On 27 April 2018 third annual congregation of Hindu Boudda Christian Oikkya Parishad at Mymensingh was held. I was invited and cheered by people. Dr. Nim Chandra Bhowmik and Dr.Rana Das Gupta were present: Advocate Rabindra Ghosh.
------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 7 of 20
ঐক্য 2018
জঝনাইেহ থিলার কালীেঞ্জ োনার বিিনের োস পাো গ্রাকমর মবেক োকসর সহেবম িনী বমলা রানীকক োনকক্ষকত েষ্ িন ককর ঘটনা িানািাবন হিার ভকয় অপরােীরা বনমম িভাকি েলাকককট খুন ককরকে। এ ঘটনায় এলাকায় বহ ু সম্প্রোকয়র মাকঝ অাাতংঙ্ক বিরাি করকে। Tripura girl 'gang-raped' in Bandarban Police arrested two people for allegedly raping a teenage indigenous girl in Bandarban on Thursday. Daily Star, April 14, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: April 15, 2018: Star Online report: The arrestees are Md Abdul Shukkur, 22 and Md Sohel, 20, our Bandarban correspondent reports quoting police on Saturday. Both were arrested on the same day following the rape. Four unidentified Bangalees picked up the 15-year-old girl from Alikadom Bazar on Thursday noon, Rafiq Ullah, officer-in- charge (OC) of Alikadom Police Station, said quoting the victim. They allegedly took her to remote Tulatoli area of the upazilla and raped her that night, the OC said. She is from Tripura community of remote Dalujirri para under Kurukpata union of Alikadom upazilla of the district. They also threatened the girl and her family not to disclose the matter to police or anyone. “We are still conducting drives to arrest two other accused Md Isa, and Md Asab Uddin”, said the OC. The victim was admitted to Bandarban Sadar Hospital yesterday for medical examination. Radhika, 15 a Hindu girl Kidnapped for conversion? Hindu minor school girl, Radhika Rani, 15 was kidnapped on 23rd March 2018 in the morning near her house. Victim’s father Dakka Nath Borman filed an FIR on 29th March at Boda Police Station (case # 18 under Nari-O-Shishu Nirjaton Ain, 7/30) against six perpetrators, namely, Shohel Rana, 28; Nuruzzaman, 32; Rafiqul Islam, 45, Basudev; Rafiqul Islam, 45; and Mominur, 25. On that morning, when the victim was going to market, the above perpetrators abruptly kidnapped her. BDMW contacted Boda PS and the officer informed that one accused was arrested, but the girl was not recovered. Victim’s family feared that Radhika will be forcefully converted. ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 8 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-JOT-002-2018; April 24, 2018 An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and FORUM- ASIA to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina
To: H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wazed Prime Minister of Bangladesh C/O Md. Nojibur Rahman Principal Secretary to the HPM Prime Minister’s Office, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215, BANGLADESH.
Dear Prime Minister, BANGLADESH: Proposed Digital Security Bill will restrict free expression and promote self- censorship in Bangladesh FORUM-ASIA, the Asian Human Rights Commission and CIVICUS (World Alliance for Citizen Participation) are writing to you, as civil society organisations, to express our grave concern about the implications of the proposed Digital Security Bill 2018 on the right to freedom of expression of the citizens of Bangladesh. We understand that the draft bill was presented before the parliament and was sent to a Standing Committee on 9 April 2018 and is expected to be reviewed over the next four weeks. We believe the 2018 Digital Security Bill contains provisions that are overly broad and vague, and that impose disproportionate sentences and prescribe lengthy prison sentences for violators. The bill, if adopted, will exacerbate a range of legal restrictions that will impinge on the right to freedom of expression guaranteed in the Constitution and the country’s obligations under international law, in particular the ICCPR, which was ratified by Bangladesh in 2000. We are particularly concerned about the follow aspects of the bill: • The bill proposes to empower low ranking police officers with wide discretionary powers to conduct investigations, searches and seizures without applying normative digital evidentiary standards and without judicial oversight. • The bill lacks a precise definition of what is considered a cybercrime and criminalises the use of electronic devices to “cause deterioration to law and order”, harm "religious sentiments”, cause incitement "against another person or organization”, and carry out “acts of defamation” - all of which have been incorporated from section 57 of the ICT Act. The bill simply splits these offences into four separate sections (21, 25, 28 and 29) with punishment ranging from three to 10 years' jail term. • There are concerns around the inclusion of the crime of “carrying out negative propaganda" against the Liberation War (1971 War of Independence) or the ‘Father of the Nation’ (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's first president) that carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years' ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 9 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 in jail or a fine of up to Tk 50 lakh (60,000 USD) or both. These provisions are in contravention of the right to freedom of opinion and expression • Section 32 of the draft bill related to "espionage” could be used against journalists, online activists and lawyers who investigate and expose controversy or illegality within the government. • The bill also stipulates some crimes are “non-bailable” and authorises security agencies to search or arrest anyone without any warrant if a police officer believes that an offense under the law has been committed or there is a possibility of crimes. Such provision often encourages abuse of power by law enforcement officers and promotes self-censorship. We are concerned that, according to reports, although the draft bill is currently under consideration in parliament, cases filed under section 57 of the ICT Act will continue to be investigated and if necessary, prosecuted. Section 57 of the ICT Act violates the right to freedom of expression by both criminalising legitimate forms of expression and through its vague wording that allows the authorities to arbitrarily and abusively apply the law. Scores of journalists have been arrested under section 57 of the Act for their reporting; around 700 cases have been filed under this Section since 2013. The provision has also been described as a “de facto blasphemy law”, as it criminalises several forms of online expression including anyone who “causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief”. In 2017, the Human Rights Committee in its concluding observations raised concerns about the arrest of journalists, “secular bloggers” and human rights defenders under the ICT Act and called for the government to “repeal or revise the with a view to bringing it into conformity with the State party’s obligations under the Covenant, taking into account the Committee’s general comment No. 34 (2011) on the freedoms of opinion and expression”. We are also highly concerned by the government's lack of meaningful consultation regarding the bill with key stakeholders including journalists, civil society and the human rights community. We urge the government of Bangladesh to prioritise a collective review of the proposed Digital Security Bill to bring it in line with international human rights law and standards and to repeal Section 57 of the ICT Act. The government must ensure that any future legislative proposals that have implications for the media or civil society are developed in full consultation with all stakeholders. Freedom of expression is of critical importance to hold those in power accountable. There should be no limitations on the freedom of expression and personal opinion, particularly those that systematically violate democratic spaces and practices. It is crucial that the government takes steps to develop an enabling environment for freedom of expression in line with international standards and end its willful misuse of restrictive legislation to subvert free speech. AHRC, [email protected]
Manik Paul, a Human Rights defender, working for the minorities in Bangladesh is in USA now. He is from Brussels. His contact number: 347-337- 6493.
------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 10 of 20
ঐক্য 2018
https://www.hrw.org/report/ 2018/05/09/no-place-criticism/ bangladesh-crackdown-social- media- commentary “No Place for Criticism: Bangladesh Crackdown on Social Media Commentary” May 9, 2018 Bangladesh: Protect Freedom of Expression Repeal Draconian Section 57 but New Law Should Not Replicate Abuses On April 9, 2018, Bangladesh listed its new Digital Security Bill in parliament, which was then sent to a parliamentary standing committee for review. The proposed law is in part intended to replace section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act (ICT Act) 2006, which has been widely criticized for restricting freedom of expression and has resulted in scores of arrests since 2013. However, the current draft of the Bill replicates, and even enhances, existing strictures of the ICT Act. This report documents abuses under section 57 of the ICT Act to warn that any new law should protect rights, not be used to crack down on critics. For instance, exactly a year ago, Monirul Islam, a rubber plantation worker in Srimongol, southern Bangladesh, experienced an unwelcomed surprise. He was arrested on April 13, 2017, accused of defaming the country’s prime minister and harming the image of Bangladesh. His crime: he had “liked” and then “shared" a Facebook post, something social media users around the world do every day. The post, allegedly from a colleague, criticized the ongoing visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed to India, saying that she was meeting her Indian counterpart, “for the sake of power and to win the coming election.” The post included some cartoons of the prime minister. He was accused of offences under section 57 of the ICT Act claiming that he, and the publisher of the post, were “opposition supporters” and that the post was an “injustice,” “condemnable,” and a “betrayal to the country.” Denied bail by both the magistrate and district courts, Islam, who denies the offence, was detained for three months before the High Court released him in July 2017. Meanwhile, the author of the original post, reportedly went into hiding fearing his own arrest. *** Section 57 of ICT Act authorizes the prosecution of any person who publishes, in electronic form, material that is fake and obscene; defamatory; “tends to deprave and corrupt” its audience; causes, or may cause, “deterioration in law and order;” prejudices the image of the state or a person; or “causes or may cause hurt to religious belief.” These broad and sweeping terms invite misuse of the law. When Bangladesh first enacted the ICT Act in November 2006 to regulate digital communications, legal protections within the law limited the number of arrests and prosecutions. In 2013, the government amended the law, eliminating the need for arrest warrants and official permission to prosecute, restricting bail, and increasing prison terms if convicted. A new Cyber Tribunal dedicated to dealing with offences under the ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 11 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 ICT Act was also established. As a result, the number of complaints to the police, arrests, and prosecutions has soared. Between 2013 and April 2018, the police submitted 1271 charge sheets, most of them under section 57 of the ICT Act. Many of these cases involved multiple accused. Often, it seems, the intent is to intimidate, with relatively few convictions—according to anecdotal comments from court officials—resulting from prosecutions. In September 2017, Md Nazrul Islam Shamim, special public prosecutor of the Cyber Tribunal, told The Dhaka Tribune that 65 to 70 percent of cases filed under section 57 cannot be proved in court. “Some cases are totally fabricated and are filed to harass people,” he said. In the first three months of 2018, of the nine cases where trials were concluded, eight were acquitted. However, the impact of being arrested for a criminal offense can be severe on the individual, their family, and on free speech, as those who might otherwise speak out choose to self-censor rather than risk arrest and months of imprisonment. “A sinister section such as section 57 must be repealed soon,” the Bangladesh daily, New Age, said in an August 2017 editorial, “or, else it must be resisted and repulsed by not only the journalist community but also society at large.” Following public outrage, Bangladesh authorities pledged to repeal the ICT Act, and on January 29, 2018, the cabinet approved a new Digital Security Act. However, the proposed draft is in some instances even broader than the law it seeks to replace and violates the country’s international obligation to protect freedom of speech. This report—based on investigation of police and court documents and interviews with dozens of accused— details violations of free speech rights under section 57 of the ICT Act and concludes with recommendations to the Bangladesh government aimed at ensuring that any new law does not open the door to further violations. Information and Communication Act Between 2006, when the law was first enacted, and 2013, when it was amended, police data shows that while there were 426 complaints, only a few resulted in arrests or prosecution. However, after the law was amended in October 2013 the situation changed dramatically. Hundreds, including several journalists, have been accused under section 57 for criticizing the government, political leaders, and others. In the first three and half months of 2018 alone, police submitted 282 charge sheets with Cyber Tribunal officials. Most involve criticism of the government, defamation, or offending religious sentiments, while the rest are allegations against men publishing intimate photographs of women without their consent. After recent student protests, on April 8, 2018, a police officer filed a complaint referring to 43 “provocative” Facebook posts which “many have liked and commented on” that has, as a result, “created a situation which could potentially harm society and create chaos.” Yet, apart from a few lewd characterizations, these posts contained legitimate commentary about an ongoing political protest. The Cyber Tribunal provides no official data on the number of convictions and acquittals, but anecdotal evidence suggests few people have been convicted to date. The impact, however, of an arrest for a criminal offense may be significant. As Frank La Rue, former UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, has stated: Individuals face the constant threat of being arrested, held in pretrial detention, subjected to expensive criminal trials, fines, and imprisonment, as well as the social stigma associated with having a criminal record.
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ঐক্য 2018 In addition, such treatment may chill free speech. “The government has reassured the public of their commitment to freedom of speech,” the Dhaka Tribune said in a September 2017 editorial. “Then why does section 57 continue to be a tool of harassment?” Punishing Government Critics Section 57 is often used in Bangladesh to prosecute those who criticize individual politicians, particularly the prime minister and her relatives. Under the 2013 amendments, a person may be arrested simply on the basis of a complaint to the police, regardless of whether the person filing it has themselves been prejudiced, defamed, or otherwise “injured” by the offending material. Members and supporters of the ruling Awami League party have exploited this rule to file numerous complaints alleging that online speech has defamed or prejudiced the prime minister, other government officials, or the ruling party. For example, on August 27, 2016, Rashedul Islam Raju, general secretary of the Awami League’s student wing based at Rajshahi University, complained to police about three Facebook posts by Dilip Roy, a student involved with a left-wing opposition party. Raju said the posts, including one that stated, “I can't label a dog Awami League, because it would be ashamed to be labeled as such,” constituted a threat to the prime minister, insulted her father (the country’s first president), and defamed the Awami League. Roy was arrested the next day, and remained in custody for three months before the High Court granted bail. In other cases, police have acted directly against government critics without waiting for a complaint. For instance, on September 5, 2016, Shahadat Hossen Khondaker, a Bangladesh railways employee, was arrested for allegedly posting “anti-government statements” on Facebook. These posts criticized the trial of Mir Quasem Ali, convicted of crimes committed during the country’s independence war. Shahadat remained in detention for 11 months before he finally obtained bail in August 2017. One of the most well-known uses of section 57 to target government critics involves Odhikar, a Dhaka- based human rights organization. On August 10, 2013, Odhikar’s secretary, Adilur Rahman Khan, was arrested on “suspicion of causing disruption to society” and “carrying out a conspiracy against the state.” His arrest came three months after the group published a report documenting alleged killings of protesters by law enforcement during a rally by the conservative Islamist organization, Hefazet-e-Islami. On September 3, police filed a case against Rahman and Nasiruddin Elan, Odhikar’s director, under section 57 of the ICT Act, alleging the report was “fiction.” Both men were eventually released on bail, but the case remained pending at time of writing. Journalists have also faced arrest for writing online about alleged government or corporate corruption or inappropriate conduct. On September 1, 2016, Siddique Rahman, editor of the Daily Shikkha, a news website dedicated to education reporting, was arrested in Dhaka after publishing articles about alleged corruption in a government education department. The arrest followed a complaint by the department’s former director general, who said the allegations were false and defamatory to her and “the nation,” would “provoke anyone to commit crimes,” and thus wreak “havoc in the law and order of the country.” Protecting Religious Sentiment Section 57 also criminalizes those whose online words or pictures “cause, or may cause hurt to religious belief.” At a time when religious fundamentalism has become hotly debated on social media, these vague provisions create a significant risk of arrest for anyone writing about Islam with any critical perspective. For example, one of the earliest prosecutions for hurting religious belief involved the arrest of four young men in Dhaka on April 1, 2013 for making “derogatory comment[s] about the Prophet Mohammad” on Facebook and in various blogs. The High Court granted bail a month later and during hearings in February
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ঐক্য 2018 2014 issued an order asking the government to explain why proceedings against the four men should not be quashed—one of the few cases in which the High Court has stopped a section 57 prosecution. On September 26, 2015, Mohan Kumar Mondal and his colleague Shawkat Hossain were arrested in Satkhira after an Awami League activist filed a case alleging that a Facebook post by Mondal had hurt religious beliefs of Muslims. The post criticized Saudi Arabia's security arrangements during the Haj that led to a deathly stampede killing hundreds. The men were detained for two months before the Cyber Tribunal granted bail on November 29, 2015. Blogger Limon Fakir was arrested in April 2017 after a case was lodged against him and another well- known blogger, Asaduzzman Noor, for comments “defamatory of the prophet Mohammed”. Noor was subsequently arrested from Dhaka airport. They both remain in detention, refused bail by the High Court at a hearing in April 2018. Digital Security Act In 2015, several leading members of civil society filed a High Court petition against section 57, saying it violated freedom of expression and that prosecutions on vague grounds had created a “sense of terror” and self-censorship among writers, bloggers, journalists, and citizens. They argued section 57 violated article 39 of the constitution which provides, with exceptions, the right to free expression. The case remained pending at time of writing. However, in August 2017, media outrage following the arrest of a reporter in Khulna for sharing an article on Facebook—about a goat that died almost immediately after being given by a minister to a villager as a relief measure—resulted in some action to restrict use of the law and enabled greater scrutiny of complaints. Acknowledging that section 57 is misused, the government proposed to replace the law with a new Digital Security Act that they argue places some checks and balances on arrests over speech. However, some provisions of the proposed new law are even more draconian than those in section 57. These include forbidding discussion of facts around the independence movement and setting prison terms for vague offenses like publishing “aggressive or frightening” information. The law would also impose sentences of up to 10 years in prison for posting information which “ruins communal harmony or creates instability or disorder or disturbs or is about to disturb the law and order situation”—overbroad language that opens the door to further abuses. Bangladesh’s journalists are also concerned about section 32 of the proposed act, which will treat the use of secret recordings to expose corruption and other crimes as espionage, arguing it will restrict investigative journalism and muzzle media freedom. Even as the law minister, Anisul Huq, said, “no journalist will be harassed by Section 32 of the Digital Security Act, as this law is not being formulated [to target] journalists,” the commerce minister, Tofail Ahmed, told journalists, “Various media reports often turn out to be humiliating for the MPs. Their images are tarnished. They are representatives of the people after all. So, this act has been formulated to prevent these [media reports].” Also concerning is a life sentences provision in the proposed law for “negative propaganda and campaign against liberation war of Bangladesh or spirit of the liberation war or Father of the Nation.” The United Nations Human Rights Committee, the independent expert body that monitors compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Bangladesh is a party, has said that laws that penalize opinions about historical facts are incompatible with a country’s obligations to respect freedom of opinion and expression. It is also essential that restrictions on public debate or discourse, even when the goal is a laudable one such as protecting racial harmony, are not implemented to the detriment of human rights, such as freedom of
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ঐক্য 2018 expression and freedom of assembly. A prohibition on speech that hurts someone’s religious feelings, reinforced by criminal penalties, cannot be justified as a necessary and proportionate restriction on speech. Under international law, governments are required to protect and respect freedom of speech. Speech can only be restricted when this is clearly set out in domestic law, for legitimate reasons (as set out in international treaties), and only when the measures to restrict the speech are proportionate. Criminalization of speech offenses should only be imposed for the worst cases, such as direct incitement to violence, and not for speech such as criticism of the authorities or defamation. The internet and social media give individuals unprecedented ability to communicate and access information across borders. Governments, including that of Bangladesh, have welcomed and sought to actively harness the internet to further social and economic development. Instead of fearing such communication will amplify dissatisfaction, Bangladesh should take steps to protect freedom of expression, and welcome peaceful dissent and criticism. সংখ্যালঘু বহন্দ ু ধবম ির মমবয় ধবষ িত! মমবয়টি লজ্জায় অপমাবি আত্মহতযা ক্বরবে ...থমকয়ঠটর নাম- িয়ী মন্ডল। বপতা- কুমাকরি মন্ডল। গ্রাম- উির িাবনিা া। থপা - লাউকডাি।উপকিলা- োককাপ। থিলা- খুলনা। পকে- বােি থশ্রণীর বিজ্ঞান বিভাকে। থরাল- ১। সরকাবর এলবিকক বডবগ্র মবহলা মহাবিেযালকয়। থমকয়ঠট ক্লাকসর িাস্টি োল বেল ি ! ...েষ্ িণকারী মুসবলম থেকলঠটর নাম- বমিিা ইনিামাম হক। এসএন ককলি োত্রলীকের সভাপবত। ওর কাকা বমিিা সাইিুল ইসলাম োককাপ উপকিলা োত্রলীকের সভাপবত বেল।িতিমাকন িািয়ু া ইউবনয়ন আওয়ামী লীকের সভাপবত। ঐ িালা মােক িযািসা ও চাᶁোিাজি ককর। িতিমাকন ো ঢাকা বেকয়কে। ...থমকয়ঠট অতয থমোিী ও বহ ু েকম ির সম্পে বেল! মুসবলমকের থকারান হাবেকস আকে, অমুসবলম থমকয়কের থিার ককর েষ্ িণ করা িাকয়ি! কারণ তারা েবনমকতর মাল। িাংলাকেকির আোলকত বহ ুকের ওপকর অতযাচাকরর সি অবভকোে আইকনর িাᶁক বেকয় েকল োয়। থকাকনা মুসবলম অপরােীর সািা হয় না। এটারও হকি না, আবম বনজিত।
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ঐক্য 2018 তাকের নযায় বিচার বনজিত করা ইতযাবে বিষ্কয় সুপাবরি উত্থাবপত হকয়কে। অকস্ট্রবলয়া, থডনমাকি, মালবীপ, বনউজিলযা-, থপ쇁, আকিিবিনা, ইরান, ফ্রান্স, িাহরাইন, সাবি িয়া ইতযাবে রাষ্ট্রসমূহ এসি বিষ্য় তুকল েকরকে িকল িানা থেকে।
এোো নারী ও কনযাবিশুর িবত সবহংসতা, েমীয় স্বােীনতা, মানিাবেকার কমীকের সুরক্ষা, অবেকার কমীকের বিচারিবহভূিত হতযা ও থিারপূি িক গুম, বনরাপিা িাবহনীর সেসযকের োয়মুজি, েু: ও িাব ক িনকো ীর সামাজিক বনরাপিা, মৃতুযে- রবহতকরণ, বককিারী বিিাহ বনকরাে ইতযাবে বিষ্কয় সুপাবরি উত্থাবপত হকয়কে। তকি সিকচকয় থিবি আকলাচনা ও সুপাবরি উকি আকস থরাবহো ইসুয বনকয়। থরাবহো আশ্রয় থেয়ায় িাংলাকেিকক ভূয়সী িসংিা করা হকয়কে। উকেখয থে, পাি িতয চট্টগ্রাম চুজি িা িায়কন িাংলাকেি সরকার তার িবতকিেকন পূকি ির মকতা উকেখ ককরকে থে, পাি িতয চুজির পূণ িাে িা িায়কন সরকার িেপবরকর। পাি িতয চট্টগ্রাম চুজি িা িায়কনর িজিয়া ত্বরাবন্বতকরকণর লকক্ষয সরকার ২০১৮ সাকলর িানুয়াবরকত পাি িতয চট্টগ্রাম চুজি িা িায়ন কবমঠট পুনে িিন ককরকে। ভূবম বিকরাে বনষ্পবির কাি ত্বরাবন্বত করা এিং এতোঞ্চকলর ক্ষুদ্র নৃকো ীর ভূবম অবেকার সংরক্ষকণর লকক্ষয ২০১৬ সাকল পাি িতয চট্টগ্রাম ভূবম বিকরাে বনষ্পবি কবমিন আইন সংকিােন ককরকে। থে সম েবললাবের ওপর বভবি ককর এই পে িাকলাচনা করা হয় তা হকলা- ১) িাতীয় বরকপাটি - িাংলাকেি সরকার কতৃ কি থপিকৃত তেয; ২) স্বােীন মানিাবেকার বিকিষ্জ্ঞ এিং পর쇁পসমূকহর িবতকিেন, ো বিকিষ্ কাে িিণালী বহকসকি পবরবচত, মানিাবেকার ঠরঠট িবড এিং অনানয িাবতসংঘ সত্বাসমূকহর তেয সমৃে িবতকিেনসমূহ; ৩) অনযানয অংিীোরেণ থেমন, িাতীয় মানিাবেকার িবত ানসমূহ, আঞ্চবলক সংসরহাসমূহ এিং আবেিাসী ও নােবরক সমাকির িবতবনবেেণ কতৃ কি িেি তেয। উকেখয থে, আবেিাসী িাবতসমূকহর িাতীয় পে িাকয়র মানিাবেকার সংেিন কাকপং িাউকন্ডিকনর সাবচবিক সহায়তায় থকায়াবলিন অি ইজন্ডকিনাস বপপলস অে িানাইকিিন কতৃ কি একঠট িবতকিেন থপি করা হকয়বেল। উকেখয থে, ইউবপআর িাবতসংঘ মানিাবেকার কাউজন্সকলর একঠট স্বতন্ত্র িজিয়া ো িাবতসংকঘর ১৯৩ঠট সেসয রাকষ্ট্রর মানিাবেকার পবরব বত উন্নবতর লকক্ষয িবতঠ ত। এই িজিয়ার অেীকন িতিমাকন পাᶁচ িের অ র অ র িাবতসংকঘর সেসয রাষ্ট্রসমূকহর বনি বনি রাকষ্ট্রর মানিাবেকার পবরব বত পে িাকলাচনা করা হয় এিং থসঠটর আকলাকক মানিাবেকার পবরব বত উন্নবতকরকণ এিং নােবরককের িবত মানিাবেকাকরর োয়োবয়ত্ব পবরপূরকণ েহৃ ীত পেকক্ষপসমূহ থঘাষ্ণা করা হয়। ইউবপআর তুলনামুলকভাকি িাবতসংকঘর
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ঐক্য 2018 মানিাবেকার পবরষ্কের একঠট নতুন এিং অবেক কাে িকর িযি া বহকসকি মানিাবেকার পবরব বতকক উন্নীত করকত খুিই গু쇁ত্বপূণ ভূবমকা ি পালন করকে। িাবতসংঘ মানিাবেকার কাউজন্সকল ইউবপআর িা সাি িিনীন পুনিীক্ষণ পেবত এর আওতায় ২০০৯ সাকল এিং ২০১৩ সাকল িাংলাকেকির মানিাবেকার পবরব বতর পে িাকলাচনা করা হয়। থেকির সুিীল সমাকির িবতবনবেকের সাকে আবেিাসী িবতবনবেরাও ইউবপআর িযি ার েুঠট অবেকিিকন অংিগ্রহণ ককর এিং োয়া িবতকিেন থপি ককর। ১৪ থম থসামিার িাংলাকেকির মানিাবেকার পবরব বতর উপর তৃ তীয় চকির থে বরবভউ হয় থসখাকনও থেকির বিবভন্ন সুিীল সামাজিক সংেিকনর োয়া িবতকিেকন আবেিাসীকের মানিাবেিাকরর বিষ্য়গুকলা অ ভু ি করা হয়। পািাপাবি কাকপং িাউকন্ডিকনর উকেযাকে েঠিত ৩০ঠট আবেিাসী সংেিকনর সমন্বকয় েঠিত ইউবপআর থকায়াবলিন এর মােযকম আবেিাসীকের পক্ষ থেকক ইউবপআর থিারাকম িবতকিেন থপি করা হয়। বহরণবমত্র চাকমা, িযি াপক, কাকপং িাউকন্ডিন, থিান: ০১৭১২৭৩৯৩৫০ 150-yr-Old Zamindar Bari: Falling prey to grabber Daily Star, 30 April 2018: The Zamindar Bari in Panidhar of Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar is over 150 years old. For over half a year, a local influential person is occupying a part of the mansion's land. Photo: Mintu Deshwara
Mintu Deshwara
A 150-year-old Zaminder Bari in the the northeast village of Panidhar has withstood the test of time and elements and has been the home to three generations of a Hindu family. The house is not only of historic importance but also cultural, for it houses a deity that locals cherish.
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ঐক্য 2018 However, this place of worship in Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar is now under threat of a local influential land grabber. Landlord Ramkumar Purakayastha gave his land and the Zaminder Bari to his three sons through a debutter (endowment) agreement. His sons looked after their ancestral property and after their deaths, the land was in the possession of the next generation. At present, the land is in the custody of the Zaminder's grandsons -- Rudrendro Kumar Roy Purakayastha, Romakanto Roy Purakayastha, Radhakanto Roy Purakayastha, Shamakanto Roy Purakayastha and Arobindo Kumar Roy Purakayastha.One of them passed away while three of them worked for the government their whole lives. A local influential, Lal Mia, is occupying the land for six to seven months now, said 78-year-old Shamakanto. “He has also forcibly built a tin-built home on 50 decimals of land and is looting crops from our land every year.” This correspondent tried to speak to locals about Lal Mia, but it seemed like no one wanted to speak up, apparently out of fear. Ranjit Kumar Roy, joint director at Bangladesh Bank in Dhaka and son of late Romakanto, said Lal Mia was trying to grab six acres of their land by forging signatures on documents. “The last time I visited was on March 23. I saw the tin-built home and asked Lal Mia to explain what was going on. He said he had the documents to build a home there.” That was the first time that Ranjit was given photocopied sheets of a 'power of attorney' deed. “Lal Mia threatened me and said that he would kill me if I went back to our home,” he added. “I couldn't even pay my land tax to the AC-land office for the last two years as the grabber has submitted false deeds there. Lal Mia also mocked me later, repeatedly saying that we would not be able to pay land tax anymore as the local land office is under his control,” said Ranjit. “I submitted a written petition with the Moulvibazar DC office on April 2. From there, I went to the office of the superintendent of Moulvibazar. The SP was very positive, assuring me that there was no way to take power of attorney on a debutter property.” He was referred to the Barlekha Police Station. Ranjit filed a petition with Barlekha police requesting the station to take it as a first information report (FIR), but police officers refused to record it that way.
Built a corrugated iron sheet structure, Photo: Mintu Deshwara “This is our home, where we grew up and hold cherished memories. We all gather two to four times a year to celebrate our religious festivals or on holidays, but now there is no peace. My paternal uncle and his
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ঐক্য 2018 family are living there, but always in fear,” said Ranjit. Rajib Purakayastha, a US citizen, who is currently in Dhaka to take care of his ill father Radhakanto, said, “I have also received threats over the phone.” Lal Mia is harassing them to take complete possession of the land on the basis of fake documents, he added. “I filed a GD with Ramna Police Station recently, fearing for my safety.” Denying the allegations, Lal Mia, son of late Mokhlish Ali in Muchegul village in the same upazila, said Radhakanto gave him power of attorney over the land on January 12, 2016. “Since then, I have been looking after all aspects of the land.” Ranjit of Bangladesh Bank said Lal Mia forged the signature of Radhakanta, who has been suffering from dementia and has been bed-ridden for at least the last two years. “Technically speaking, this is a debutter property that cannot be transferred or sold. In that case, how the property can be registered in the Barlekha sub registrar's office under his name should also be investigated by higher authorities,” he added. “He notarised a number of false documents from Topkhana Road in Dhaka, which is evidently fake, in bids to grab the Zaminder Bari, the temple on it, family crematorium, pond, paddy fields, and other infrastructure.” Referring to recent attacks on the Hindu communities, Faruq Mahmud Chowdhury, president of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik, Sylhet chapter, said fundamentalist groups continue to attack the Hindus, as the government did not take punitive action against the unscrupulous locals. He demanded effective measures from the government to prevent the illegal grabbing of debutter properties and ensure security of members of the minority community. Debdulal Dhar, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Barlekha Police Station, said he received complaints from Ranjit on the matter of land grabbing. “I am preparing an investigation report that will be submitted to the OC soon.” “We are ready to help the minority families,” he added. Tofayel Islam, deputy commissioner of Moulvibazar, also told The Daily Star that the matter was under investigation.
RAISE VOICE FOR HUMANITY IN FRONT OF BANGLADESH EMBESSY PARIS, FRANCE ------Issue 257, 15 May 2018; [email protected]; Compiled & Edited by Sitangshu Guha; Page 19 of 20
ঐক্য 2018 17th session of the UNPFII: Permanent Forum urges Bangladesh to implement CHT The 17th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) urged the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to declare roadmap for implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord, to execute powers and functions of the CHT Regional Council and three Hill District Councils and to approve Rules of Business of the CHT Land Commission. In the recommendations, the UNPFII says, "10. Recalling the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur appointed to undertake a study on the status of implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord of 1997 (E/C.19/2011/6, sect. VIII), the Forum encourages the Government of Bangladesh: (i) to set a time frame for the full implementation of the Accord including devolution of authority to the CHT Regional Council and three Hill District Councils; and (ii) to adopt the Rules of Procedure for the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission, and allocate sufficient human and financial resources for the Commission." The 17th session of the UNPFII was held on 16-27 April 2018 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The main theme of the session was “Indigenous peoples’ collective rights to lands, territories and natural resources”. In the opening ceremony held on 16 April 2018 at 11:00 am, Ms Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine, a representative of the Tuareg people from Mali, was re-elected as Chair of the UNPFII. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UN General Assembly; H.E. Evo Morales, President of Bolivia; Elliott Harris, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, among others, spoke in the opening ceremony. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UN General Assembly, stressed that – while the UN had taken important steps to enable access to international fora for indigenous peoples – the organization has not “opened its doors wide enough” and that more ambitious steps need to be taken. In his remarks, Bolivian President H.E. Evo Morales, himself a member of the indigenous Aymara people, added that indigenous communities are at the forefront of the protection of indigenous peoples’ environment and sustainable livelihoods, stating that “indigenous peoples and others alike need to be organized to protect the rights of Mother Earth against the pillage of our natural resources for a system that profits a few”. Around 1200 representatives of indigenous peoples, member-state, UN specialized agencies, academics, human rights organizations around the globe attended the meeting. 13 Indigenous representatives, namely, Raja Devasish Roy, Chakma circle chief and former expert member of the UNPFII; Mangal Kumar Chakma, Information and Publicity Secretary of PCJSS; Pallab Chakma, Executive Director of Kapaeeng Foundation; Santoshita Chakma Bakul, General Secretary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Jumma Refugees' Welfare Association; Rani Yan Yan; ina J. Lushai of Bangladesh Indigenous Women's Network; Augustina Chakma of PCJSS; Krishna R Chakma of CHT Foundation; Samarjit Sinha of Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples Forum; Mrinal Kanti Tripura; Nwe Oo (from California, USA) (from Patukhali); and Chipamong Chowdhury (Rebota Bhante) (from Kaptai), MPhil student of Columbia University et al attended the meeting. On the other, 7-8 Government representatives, namely, Md. Nurul Amin, Secretary of CHT Affairs Ministry; Sudatta Chakma, Additional Secretary of CHT Affairs Ministry; Anowar-Ul Haque, Chairman of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission; Lt. Col. Tanvir Ahmed, Director of PMD; Nanda Dulal Bonik, Deputy Secretary of CHT Affairs Ministry; and more 2/3 persons participated in the event. < Kapaeeng Foundation>.
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