31,505 minorities faced persecution last year: report
Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance in a report yesterday said some 108 people of the minority community were killed and 26 went traceless across the country last year.
During this period, some 31,505 people of the minority community faced persecution while perpetrators -- often belonging to the ruling party -- grabbed around 9,507 acres of land belonging to minorities, the alliance said in its annual report based on data collected from national dailies, social media and their representatives.
Gobinda Chondro Pramanik, secretary general of the alliance, read out the report at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
In total, victims faced a loss of around Tk 433.57 crore last year, the report said.
Some 36 people of the community were listed as Razakars who are freedom fighters, according to the report.
In this context, leaders of the alliance expressed deep concern “as perpetrators are not punished while violence is on the rise.”
“Hindus are leaving the country in fear of violence against them. If this trend continues, no Hindu will remain after 20 years,” said Gobinda Chondro Pramanik.
Culture of impunity is encouraging perpetrators to commit violence and grab lands of the minority, he added.
The alliance demanded 50 reserved seats in the parliament, a ministry on minority affairs and a full minister from the Hindu community.
Meanwhile, leaders of the alliance also protested Election Commission’s decision to hold the two Dhaka city corporation polls on the day of Saraswati Puja (January 30).
Senior vice president Pradip Kumar Paul demanded rescheduling of the election.
Among others, BB Goswami, senior vice-president of the organisation; Bijoy Krisna Bhattacharya, its chief coordinator; and Sajen Krisna Bal, president of Students Grand Alliance, also spoke at the programme.
Comments