Do the Hindus of Bangladesh on the path of Sure Extinction?
The rest is in possession of ‘unknown elements’. The Daily Star published a news in 2013 on the deprived Hindu community. The unyielding use of violence and power by local elites and land administrators feature frequently in case stories of vested law. Mr.Shamaresh Nath from Shirajdikha, Munshiganj, challenged the declaration of 134 decimal of his homestead property as vested, the Union Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of the area physically harassed him, violently beating his family members with goons and the police. Even though High Court ruled in Nath’s favour in 2009, the UNO continues to deny him access to his land, threatening to harm Mr. Nath and his family if they don’t back off. Mr. Nath has not been able to return home even today. He says, “My father was the District Commissioner of Bangladesh. If he can’t get justice, where will ordinary people go?” Though there is a ray of hope that there are some Bangladeshi citizens who are genuinely concerned about minority issues. However, whether it is sufficient to change the fate of Hindus in the country is another matter altogether, and on this note the question looms large and real, are the Hindus of Bangladesh on the path of slow yet sure annihilation?
Chandan Sarkar
- Prof of Economics, Chairman of REO – A leading Human rights Activist inBangladesh.
