WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/47883
While it is true that not every murder or rape on a minority in
Bangladesh has been for religion, but religious discrimination has
indeed done little to ameliorate the condition. Religion at least
partially accounts for the large cultural differences, discrimination
and MISTRUST that divide racially similar groups living in
subcontinent.
One example of such mistrust is the Enemy Property act (Custody and
Registration), a discriminatory act by the Government against its own
citizens that still persists under the name of `Vested Property Act`
in Bangladesh. This discriminatory law in its 40 years of existence
has affected millions of Hindus and other minority communities in
Bangladesh. The Constitutional Discrimination (A non-Muslim, by
Constitution, cannot become the President, the Head of the State),
Adding Bismillaher Rahmaner Rahim' at the beginning of the
Constitution in 1977 and recognizing Islam as a `State Religion' in
1988 had worsen the situation no doubt. Hindus don't get appointed in
defense and foreign services in Bangladesh. Since 1947 only few
(probably not more than 4) Hindus got appointment in Foreign Service.
Hindus normally don't get appointed for high government positions.
There was a time when nobody could rise above the Joint Secretary
level, if he belonged to minority community. I remember, when first
caretaker government, leaded by Shahabuddin came to power, some
members of minority community were given promotion in Secretary Level
for the first time in past history. No wonder, because of such
mistrust, constitutional and state discrimination and above all
provocation and persecution, Hindu population of Bangladesh dropped
from 28% to 22% in 1951, dropped to 18.5% in 1961, the again
dropped to 13.5% in 1974, again dropped to 12.1% in 1981 and dropped
to 10% in 1991. In past few years the number has probably reached to
8.5 or below.
Mr. A S M Ahmed said he did not see any kind of religious persecution
in his beloved country; however our own experience belittles his
claim. I would like to cite just one particular incident. The mukto-mona team leaded by Prof Ajoy Roy, visited Annada Prasad, a remote village in Bhola in 2001, and we found enough Cries in Silence & Anguish among the minorities. Please check it out:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/bhola_trip.htm
Mind it, it is not only us, British journalist John Vidal also
reported in The Guardian (July 21) "In 2001, dozens of people were
killed, more than 1,000 women from minority groups were raped and
several thousand people lost their land in three months around the
election." See link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1002200,00.html
There were indeed numerous instances of hate crimes as above
perpetrated upon the minorities of Bangladesh tinm to time. Mukto-
Mona members have a first hand experience to document such crimes.
Please check these links for the series "DOCUMENTS ON MINORITY
REPRESSION: REPORT OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY COMMISSION":
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/minority/report.htm
also check
various articles kept in "Human Rights violation" section of Mukto-
mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/muk-humanrights.htm
On stating the facts I would also say, oppression and persecution of
minorities has become the salient features NOT ONLY IN BANGLADESH,
but also in all South Asian countries in recent days. Gujarat
incident of last year is an ugly reminder of the truth in which
minorities are placed. Hindus, Christian, Buddists, chakmas- all
suffer being minorities in their respective countries. It would be
better for us not to make silly and unnecessary comments without
realizing their immense pain and sufferings.
Avijit
------------------------------------
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: