Author: Vijay Pallod
Publication: The Organiser
Date: September 2, 2007
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=199&page=7
An exhibition of photos and panels vividly
describing the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh caught the attention of
influential Congressmen and key policymakers in the Bush administration.
The two-day exhibition titled "Asru"
was held at the Rayburn House Office Building at the US Capitol from July
30. The exhibits of 28 panels, which graphically chronicled the deteriorating
condition of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh over the
past several decades, were put together by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh
Minorities (HRCBM) and Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT).
"It is time that the world should know
what is happening with the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh," said Amalendu
Chatterjee, HRCBM director. The population of Hindus in this Muslim-majority
country, he pointed out, has dropped from as high as 37 per cent in 1940s
to a mere 11 per cent now. "It is all because of the atrocities perpetrated
on the Hindus by the ruling class all these years," he said.
In organising an exhibition on the plight
of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh for the first time in the history
of the Capitol, the efforts of HRCBM and FACT did cut ice among the Congressmen
and key policymakers who took time out of their busy schedule to take a look
at what was on display. "All the representatives and their staffers reiterated
the need to protect the rights of minorities and to deal with Islamic groups
in a resolute manner," said Utsav Chakrabarti, designer of the exhibition
and a member of FACT.
The exhibition received bipartisan support
from Congressional leaders and was attended by concerned citizens, political
analysts and human rights representatives.
Moved by the graphic description of the condition
of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh, powerful Congressman
Ed Royce (R-CA) wrote in the visitors' book kept at the exhibition: "The
international community must take an action against these genocidal acts now
before this culture is extinguished and the minorities forcibly killed, converted
or exiled in the face of an underground jehad."
Royce who spent more than an hour at the exhibition
hall visiting each and every panel expressed optimism that due to this effort
by HRCBM and FACT, members of Congress will be educated "as to the extreme
challenge and persecution faced by Hindus, Buddhists and Christians due to
the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh."
Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), who sponsored the
event at the Capitol said after visiting the exhibition: "I was proud
to be the Congressional sponsor of this important exhibition on human rights
in Bangladesh. I believe it helped bring much-needed attention to the plight
of minorities in Bangladesh who have suffered from increasing attacks over
the past few years."
Influential Joseph Crowley (D-NY), founder
and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Bangladesh and member of the
Congressional Human Rights Caucus, said the exhibition "serves as an
important reminder to the international community that we must remain vigilant
in preventing violence, suffering and loss around the world." He expressed
his willingness to continue working with his colleagues in Congress to help
all of the people of Bangladesh to ensure that their religious and ethnic
backgrounds are respected.
The event also had presentations by Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Bangladesh,
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC).
Toni Van Pelt expressed dismay at the apathy
of the human rights groups towards Hindu rape and molestation victims, while
urging the media to take the cause of Hindus in Bangladesh by reporting such
incidents.
Shahriar Kabir urged for global pressure on
government in Bangladesh to take a stringent action against Jamaat-e-Islami
for its role in continuing atrocities against minorities. He also reiterated
the need to repeal the Vested Interest Property Act which allows the Government
of Bangladesh to confiscate properties of non-resident Hindus and others it
deems as an enemy of the State.
Samaresh Baidya narrated his first-hand experience
facing the wrath of fundamentalist Islamists. He underlined the need for the
journalist community to expose the reality of religious intolerance and persecution.
Dwijen Bhattachariya, from the Bangladesh
Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, and Professor at Columbia University,
felt that Bangladesh is quickly turning into a Taliban-like state with potential
for becoming a breeding ground for the next generation of jehadi terrorists.
Rosalind Costa, a social worker from Bangladesh,
narrated her experience rescuing women in rural areas. She described the case
of two minor rape victims, Rita Rani Das and Purnima Shil, who were gang-raped
by jehadis and forcibly converted to Islam.
"Our goal was to create awareness and
activism in order to alleviate the plight of Hindus and other religious minorities
in that region. And we have achieved it," said Chatterjee, adding that
encouraged by the response, the organisers have now decided to take this exhibition
to other parts of the country as well, with Houston being its next destination.
