A milestone towards attaining secularism
Following Election Commission’s announcement to change Dhaka city polls’ date to February 1, Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad in a press release welcomed the decision, and said further demonstrations will be discontinued.
In the press release, the Parishad’s general secretary Rana Dasgupta said, “The students’ protest to defer the date of the polls will be a milestone for establishing the secular nation that Bangabandhu dreamed of.”
Earlier in the day, the platform had announced that minority communities across the country will begin a week-long demonstration from tomorrow, including an hour-long road blockade on January 25, demanding deferral of Dhaka north and south city corporation elections, which were scheduled for January 30, coinciding with Saraswati Puja.
“We will start our countrywide demonstration through human chains and protest rallies on January 20,” Rana Dasgupta had announced at a press conference at the platform’s office at Paltan Tower in the capital yesterday.
The National Committee to Coordinate Religious-Ethnic Minority communities collaborated with the minorities’ platform for the press conference.
The government can still change the schedule of elections on any other day instead of the puja day if it wishes well, Rana said.
On the EC’s explanation for observing puja on the Election Day, Dasgupta said the Saraswati Puja is especially celebrated by students in all schools, colleges and universities amid much festivity.
“So, how will they worship there if the city corporations use their educational institutions as polling centres on the day of puja?” he questioned.
He termed such decision as unpractical and hurtful.
Terming the different quarters’ solidarity over the demand of rescheduling as a positive sign, he said the EC could easily change the schedule as all mayoral candidates, major political parties including Awami League and BNP as well as students have meanwhile requested a deferment.
On December 22, the EC announced that elections to the two Dhaka city corporations will be held on January 30. Over the last few days, students and members of the Hindu community held demonstrations, demanding that the EC change the date.
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