Author: Aditya Ghosh, Times News
Network
Publication: The Times of India
- Internet Edition
Date: November 5, 2001
Attaphulia (Nadia): Money can reduce
ideological and religious differences to a great extent but being poor
and living among those who consider you as an enemy can be worse than death,
feel the 60-odd Bangladeshi Hindus who crossed over to India this week.
"The situation is frightening. In
Bangladesh, where the Hindus are a minority and poor, oppression is maximum,"
claimed Shyamal Sikdar, adding: "If you pay them, you can buy peace. But
if you do not, then conversion is the only way out."
Sikdar left his business in Naliagram
in Rajwari district and crossed over to India. This, according to him,
was the only way to save his 18-member family. He is just one of the several
men and women who have bundled their earthly belongings to sneak into the
border districts of Malda, Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur of West
Bengal.
Malda district magistrate Ajit Ranjan
Bardhan, however, said he was yet to get any report from police on the
migration. "Unofficially, I have heard that Hindus are coming from Bangladesh
and a large number of them have taken shelter in the district," he said.
There is a pattern in the stories.
There is pressure on the minorities to convert. If they do not, they have
to cough up large sums of money. Many of them are forced to seek safer
sanctuary in West Bengal.
Sikdar claimed that he lost Rs 4
lakh since the electoral results were announced on October 2. "Leaving
my family behind was the only way to stop the extortion. At least they
will realise that the source of money is away and stop tormenting my family
members," he said. At the same time, he feels that he cannot return to
Bangladesh, till the BNP government remains in power.
People who dare to resist had been
"punished" by subjecting the women to various forms of atrocities, sabotaging
the business and even physically assaulting the young, Sikdar claimed.
"In my village, the Pals were quite
resourceful and they refused to pay party funds. Three of their daughters
were abducted and tortured throughout the night. Next day, the girls were
returned. One of them committed suicide," he said.
"They have poisoned my ponds where
I was hatching spawns even after I paid them two sacks of rice," he said,
adding: "Even my business partner threw me out."
Shombhu Biswas (23) spent the last
four years in Mukshidpur-Gopalganj, helping out his uncles in their fishery.
He has been sent back to India. "My uncles advised me to return to India.
On the way back, I was waylaid and asked to convert. I bought freedom by
paying Rs 700," he claimed.
Amit Biswas (38) from Magura- Faridpur,
a carpenter and dealer of wood, decided to escape after persistent threats
that he should convert or pay. Strangely, all of them believe that the
threats, torture, molestation and extortion will stop if the 'head of the
family' manages to escape.
"His presence invariably calls for
trouble," he explained, adding: "Otherwise, we will have to continue paying
them money."
They all hope that good sense will
prevail and the situation will improve. To many it was a reminder of the
horrors of 1971.
"All these days, we were happy under
the Awami League's regime. They would have won this time as well but for
the terror attacks on New York and India's support to the US. The Muslims
were united and the BNP came to power. I do not think that I can return
back unless the Awami League is back," Sikdar said.
While 54 people from Bangladesh
arrived here on Thursday, most of them have relatives staying in India.
The Gede, Dattaphulia, Petrapole
borders remain the hope for many of those who still want to cross over.
