‘Ensure rights of minorities’

Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad yesterday submitted a memorandum to the prime minister, demanding that the ruling Awami League materialise their election manifesto on protecting the minorities.

Three presidents of the Parishad -- Nim Chandra Bhowmik, Nirmal Rozario and Ushaton Talukder -- general secretary Rana Dasgupta and four other members of the organisation submitted the memorandum to the prime minister's Office with signatures of two-lakh people.

Prior to that, they held a brief rally at Shahbagh. Rana Dasgupta read out the memorandum at the event.

He said they have made demands. All the demands were included in AL's manifesto, which were announced before the last national election.

The demands are immediately enacting minority protection law, forming a national minority commission, enacting a law on eliminating discrimination, proper implementation of Hill Tracts Peace Accord and a Hill Tracts Dispute Settlement Commission and a minority ministry.