BANGLADESH HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
(16 June 2005)

The Hindu Council UK held a debate on Bangladesh Human Rights Violations at House of Commons, 16th June 2005. Dr J C Sharma, chair of the HCUK trust, opened the meeting with a vedic prayer. Steve Pound MP gave a welcome address to everyone stating that human rights issues arising anywhere in the world impact on us all. Dr Bhan, President of VHP(UK), referring to the plight of the minorities in Bangladesh, spoke of the devastating effects this persecution was having on their freedom to practice their faith, damaging their culture, and uprooting many from the place of their birth.

Citing evidence of looting, arson and murder aimed at the minorities, he laid particular emphasis on the plight of women, victims of sexual violence - of rape, gang rape and mass rape. In one incident of mass rape, it was reported that 98% of the victims were Hindu women. He reminded the audience that sexual violence devastates not just the victim but the whole family.

He cited several reports from eminent and independent foreign journalists,and the concerns expressed by International Human Rights organisations. He asked that the Bangladesh Government institute an independent enquiry, bring the perpetrators of the atrocities to justice, compensate and rehabilitate the victims and ensure that in future all its citizens receive full protection of the law.

Dominic Grieve MP, spoke of the need to eradicate institutionalised racism from the world and that his party will be happy to work with HCUK on this issue.

Ms. Sheila Maharaj (HCUK Executive and spokesperson Hindu Human Rights) gave a presentation on the link between Defamation and how it can lead to Persecution. She spoke in detail about the genocide and religious cleansing of the indigenous Bangladeshi Hindus, the eradication of the indigenous culture and people of Bangladesh by the Islamic majority communities, and the deafening silence on the part of the Bangladesh, Indian and Western media. She elaborated on the theme of Defamation regarding the misuse and misrepresentation of Hindu symbols and Hinduism and the negative impact it can have on the potential amongst the general public to protest and to act -when their attention is drawn to the Human rights Abuses against Hindus across the world.

Rabindra Ghosh, President of the Human Rights Congress of Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) and HCUK's chief guest then gave video presentations of clips showing gross atrocities and human rights violations. Rabindra Ghosh works at ground zero level and he said the police, the legal system, do not even allow him to file reports. He showed a writ petitioned at the High court in 2002, including a thousand cases which he personally worked on, but the court will not give him a hearing date. Listed below are the videos clips that Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM showed HCUK, which in total were approximately 150.

LIST OF ATROCITIES IN BANGLADESH

• Principal of Nazirhat College Gopal Krishna Muhuri was gunned down by assailants at his city residence on Jamal Khan Road , Chittagong
• The Murder of Manik Saha, a prominent Hindu Journalist
• Sujan Burau a Buddhist was brutally murdered by communalist hooligans at Cox's Bazar Chittangong
• 11 Hindus of same family roasted alive in Banshkhali, Chittangong
• Two Hindu women Ms Kali Dashi and Ms Sabita Rani Gang Raped in Motbari Kotwal in Jessore district of Bangladesh.
• Attack on Hindu devotees, Deities Property illegally occupied at Rasulpur, Begumganj, Bangladesh
• Ms Satabdi Halder(14) a minority Hindu Girl kidnapped for prostitution at Nandipara, Bangladesh
• Ms Bina Rani gang raped by four rapists. The police arrested the rapists in presence of HRCBM Activists
• Repeated attacks on ISKCON temple and sadhus at Bogla Bazar in Hobiganj District, Bangladesh

Anuja Prashar, HCUK Executive, gave a summation of the key points raised by the three speakers, identifying that effective solutions to deal with the emotions and shocked reactions to those reports, could only be framed within the Law and International Law specifically. She also identified key changes to Bangladeshi Law in recent times, which run counter to the conventions of International Law and which have an impact upon the identity of Bangladeshi Hindus and therefore Hindus all over the globe. Anuja urged closer dialogue & partnership working, between all stakeholders, to narrow the gap of understanding of these issues.

Opening the debate in the second half of the programme Anil Bhanot highlighted the key areas to focus the debate upon and specifically asked the Bangla Desh Government delegation whether they could consider setting up an independent commission to look after the minority interests, as a working mechanism to Article 28 of the Constitution, which talks of equal treatment for all religions but remains dormant under the powerful Islamic frame enshrining the Constitution and with the absence of such a minority commission.

Suraj Sehgal HCUK defence relations, chairing the debate invited the Bangladesh MP's and His Excellency the High Commissioner to respond. Mr Sehgal was assisted by a panel of Dr Chawdhary (a Chittagong Hill Tracks activist and a London GP), Dr Gautam Sen (a professor in oriental studies at LSE) and Dr Bhan, Sheila Maharaj and Rabindra Ghosh.

Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Khondker Mahbubuddin Ahmed MP and Supreme Court of BD, His Excellency Mr Karim and others tried to give some explanations towards the violations but which Rabindra Ghosh refuted with hard documentary evidence. References to two newspaper reports, however, were shown to be inaccurate in a report filed with the foreign office but these were due to a clerical error in the light of an almost thousand press reports. Mr Ahmed said that the property seized under the Vested Property Act can be claimed back but those who tried did not have proof of documentation. Anil Bhanot suggested later to Mr Ahmed that perhaps a trust should be created to manage this property and the income from the trust should be used to help the minorities and perhaps also to fund an independent Minority Commission.

The High Commissioner then extended an invitation to HCUK to come and discuss the issues and go to BD for a fact finding mission and Anil Bhanot accepted the offer in the hope that some progress can be made for the establishment of an independent Minority Commission.

Dr Sharma moved a vote of thanks for all participants, all speakers, members of parliament, members of BD delegation led by the High Commissioner and Anil Bhanot the general secretary of HCUK for organising the event so successfully. He also said that perhaps the BD High Commissioner would like to return to another meeting in about six months time and report back as to what progress has been made to protect the minorities human rights in Bangladesh after this meeting and his efforts. This point was applauded by the audience and was nodded by the High commissioner in affirmative. Dr Sharma then closed the meeting with a universal peace prayer, the Vedic Shanti Mantra.

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