Political parties are patronising communal forces

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday apprehended that attacks on minority communities may increase centring on the December 30 parliamentary election, due to the patronisation of Islamic communal forces by major political parties.

They blamed two major political parties -- Awami League and BNP -- for patronising Qawmi and Jamaat men respectively, who “perpetrated attacks on minority communities” in many places in the country.

They urged countrymen not to cast vote for any candidate involved in torturing minorities.

Nagorik Samaj, a platform of citizens, organised the roundtable on “National parliament election: question of minority communities' security” at the capital's Cirdap auditorium yesterday.

Speaking at the roundtable, Khalequzzaman, general secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB), said the party (AL) which is colluding with Allama Shafi (ameer of Qawmi madrasa-based platform Hefazat-e Islam) centring on the elections cannot claim themselves to be a pro-Liberation War force.

Noted social activist Khushi Kabir alleged that “Islam as state religion” and “Secularism in the basic principle” cannot run together in the constitution.

“AL during 1971 and AL in 2018 are not same; the party has to prove that they are patronising ideology of the Liberation War through their initiatives, to build up a non-communal state,” she said.

“Some individuals who opposed the country's independence are now joining AL-led alliance, while some freedom fighters are joining the BNP-led alliance. Therefore, not the [electoral] symbol but activities are more important in the upcoming election to choose candidate [for voters],” she added

Eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal said incidents of violence on minority communities will not be eliminated unless neutrality of law enforcers and administration are established.

“We invited representatives of different political parties including the home minister [to the event] but they are absent. It proves that they are unwilling to address the problem, so we should give our answer through our vote; probably then they will pay heed to protecting minorities' rights,” she said.

She alleged that the government is negligent in introducing the minority commission. Rather, it arrests innocent people who raise voice against the government.

Stressing the need to form a political party for minorities, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta said, “We feel insecure during election, as we have no political party which can bargain to protect our rights by making alliance with the big forces.”

While delivering a keynote paper, Shamsul Huda, executive director of Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), alleged that terrible attacks on minorities were carried out in 1990, 2001, 2010, 2012 and centring on the election of 2014, the culprits of which are yet to be punished.

“As per directive of the High Court, the Sahabuddin Commission submitted a report on attack on minorities in 2012, but the government didn't take initiatives to punish culprits,” he added.

Nirmal Rosario, president of Bangladesh Christian Oikya Parishad, alleged that the land belonging to Hindu communities in Thakurgaon-2 were grabbed by the local lawmaker and his son.

He urged all to resist such public representatives in the upcoming polls.

Bangladesh Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Rana Dasgupta, Centre for Women Journalists President Nasimun Ara Haque Minu and Oikya NAP (National Awami Party) President Pankaj Bhattacharjee also spoke.