Set up separate ministry for minorities

Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote at a press conference placed a three-point demand yesterday to ensure the rights of the minority communities in the country.
The demands included a separate ministry for the minorities, a vice-presidential post representing the minorities and adequate reserve seats at the parliament and local government system.
The speakers placed the demands at the press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) auditorium in the city.
They further said that their representatives should be given the scope to speak at the parliament in favour of the communities.
A full-fledged ministry for the minority groups should be set up and a minister be assigned for that particular ministry from the minority groups, they added.
They called for a vice-presidential post beside the president. The post should be preserved for the minority candidates only. The vice-president would serve the interests of the minority groups which most of the times remain unnoticed.
They said they would abandon practising their franchise if the demands go unheeded.
Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote General Secretary Gobinda Chandra Pramanik presented a keynote paper at the programme.
Durga Parishad Chairman Rupa Ganguli, Mohajote Vice-President Shyamol Roy, Chairman Chidananda Swaraswati and Manoj Kumar Mandal of Prithok Nirbachon Bastobayon Parishad also took part in the programme.