Author:
Publication: Human Rights Congress
for Bangladesh Minorities
Date: October 30, 2001
URL: http://www.hrcbm.org/news/sangbad_report.html
Report from SAMBAD, Dhaka, Karthik
15 (bengali calender), Tuesday, Oct 30, 2001:
From Chitagong Bureau (South-east
Bangladesh)by Anjan kumar Sen: In many villages of Rauzan and Rangunia
Upa-Jillah (sub-districts), the hindus this year couldn't offer Durga Puja
- not even `Ghat- puja' (symbolic Durga puja). Many houses were torched
and looted after the election on Oct 1st..... Not only the houses were
torched, the minorities have been threatened that they need to pay tax
to perform `ghat-puja'. On Vijaya Dashami, the oppressors (`Faizal Vahini')
also declared that the minorities need to pay monthly tax to live in Bangladesh.
The police/administration is keeping
quiet. Last Saturday, a resident of Rauzan - Mr. Adhir Dey had to leave
his village for town because he dared to challange the `declaration'. Hundreds
of minority families from these two Upa-Jillah have moved to nearest towns
to save the modesty of their women and girls.. In the villages Koyepara,
Bagoan, Gujra, Noapara, Binajuri, Dabua, Deoanpur of Rauzan and the villages
Kadamtali, Shilok, Podua, Sabek-Rangunia, Santiniketan of Rangunia the
minority homes are empty except elderly ladies. The minorities are so scared
of losing their property and modesty of their women that they are reluctant
to go to police. Many lodged specific complaints, but didn't get any help
and thinks the happenings are their fate. Many allege that police initially
moved against some BNP cadres, but had to backtrack under pressure from
top BNP leaders. .... The home minister of Bangladesh has claimed that
reporters are making a mountain out of an ant-hill....... (more descriptions
of atrocities)........... ..On 14th Oct, the Durga idol of Ramkrishana
Sevashram was destroyed by the attackers, and a bengali businessman was
mercilessly beaten...... Minorities in Bangladesh need to pay Tax
to stay in their ancestral home - declaration from BNP cadres
in Rauzan and Rangunia: A report from Sangbad
This report is published in Janakantha
dated oct 10, 2001 in Bengali. Please read the second page of the Bengali
report.
