The panic scenario among Minorities in Bangladesh Prepared by: Jhuma Halder

The concept of human dignity is come to underscore the essence of human rights. Human

rights come from the pure International law. Human Rights got place in the constitution

of People’s Republic of Bangladesh as fundamental rights. Bangladesh emerged as a

“Sovereign Republic” in order to ensure for the people of Bangladesh equality, human

dignity, and social justice. This is directly reflection of UDHR, such as, equality – article

2,7 and 21 of UDHR and article 27, 28(1) and 29(1) of the Bangladesh constitution,

human dignity – article 1,6, and 9 of UDHR and article – 11, 32 of Bangladesh

constitution and social justice – article 23(a) (b) and 25(a) of UDHR and article 8(1), 15

(a) (b) (d) and 20 of Bangladesh constitution as well as the Preamble of the Constitution

of Bangladesh pledged that “the fundamental aim of the State is to realize a society in

which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice will

be secured for all citizens”. However, some amendment of this constitution and so many

anti human rights laws enacted in Bangladesh during decades that enhanced the

magnitude of human rights violation of citizen of Bangladesh. Article - 7 of the

Constitution of Bangladesh mentions that the constitution is the “Supreme Law” of the

country and if any other law is inconsistent with the constitution that other law shall, to

extent to inconsistency, be void. Again 26(1) mention that all laws inconsistent with the

provisions of the fundamental rights part (III) shall be extend of such inconsistency,

become void on the commencement of this constitution. In addition, sub-article (2) of the

same article mentions that the state shall not make any law inconsistent with any

provisions of this part, any law so made shall, to extent of such inconsistency, be void.

In a judgment of Supreme Court of Pakistan in Abu A’la Maudoodi vs. Government of

West Pakistan, quoted by Pirzada, Sharifuddin, AIR, 1950, SC Page – 101, we see that

the Bangladesh constitution has imposed some restrictions in enjoying some fundamental

rights. According to this restriction, all fundamental rights enumerated in the Bangladesh

constitution may be classified into three groups. Such as (i) Absolute rights (Article – 27,

28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 44), (ii) Rights on which reasonable restriction can be imposed

(Article – 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 43), (iii) Fundamental rights which have been practically left

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to the legislature (Article – 31, 32, 40, 42). As a result, when High Court Division of

Bangladesh Supreme Court encourages conversion to Islam by giving an order in

Criminal Appeal No.4558 of 2009 and Criminal Appeal No. 5879 of 2008 we have

nothing to do against the gross violation of minorities’ rights especially Hindus.

The following incidents will say about the increasing condition of severe violations of

human rights of the minorities of Bangladesh:

Incident 1: On 01 September 2009, The Daily Sangbad published that Hindu-Dalit

named Ms.Sabita Rani was raped by Muslim perpetrator at Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur

District and the Local Influential peoples boycotted her and bladed the hair.

Incident 2: On 02 September 2009, the Daily Star published a gang of criminals attacked

for land grabbing of three Hindu families at Dighalkandi Sahapara village in Puthia

upazila of Rajshahi.

Incident 3: On 03 September 2009, The Daily Bhorer Kagoj published news stating a

Hindu woman teacher, Josna Rani, wife of Dipok Kumar Biswas is fleeing away

threatens by a perpetrator Sarwar Hawlader son of Siddiq Hawlader.

Incident 4: On 04 September 2009, The Daily Noyadigonto published news Riligious

Hindu Minority Business persons of Boalshali upozila are subsisting under trrible

threaten of Rezaul Karim, Babul Bahimi, secretary (Publicity) of Awami Leguea of

Boalkhali Upazila under Chittagong District.

Incident 5: On 5 September 2009, The Daily Ittefaq published a news stating that a hindu

lady namely Bina Sarkar (20), daughter of Tusto Boiragi of village Dopatia at Warshi

Union of police station Mirjapur, of district Tangail, had married a Muslim man called

Sumon alias Sujon earlier. After some days of the fabricated marriage, swindle Sumon

alias Sujon divorced her and she took shelter to her parental house. However, some

influential person of that village, namely Pran Ballav, Gopal Master, called an arbitration

council and verdict to blade her (Bina) heir. The helpless family cannot take any legal

action against those influential people. They are living under menace.

Incident 6:On 6 September 2009, The Daily Samakal published a certain group of

rightwing has impaired under construction Durga Idol of Jatiapara temple of Gujadia

union at Karimgong under Kishorgong district on last 04.09.09 for creating panic among

Hindu Community during their biggest festival “Durga Puja”.

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Incident 7: On 7 September 2009, The Daily Jaijaidin published a group of terrorists

namely Rajan, Omar, and Billal influnced by Sourav Munshi bulldozed and forcefully

evicted Indeginous dwellings of Chabirpur village of Sadar Upazila under Norail district.

Miscreants vigorously grabbed 30 decimal lands of Sunil Biswas (45), Tapan (43),

Sreepati Biswas (35), Kartik (48), and Ganesh Biswas (50) and threatened them. The

miscreants slashed their truit and forest trees by the sharpen weapons. Bystanders and

affected Amina Rani (38), Jharna Biswas (35) and Tripti Rani (25) described this incident

as revenge to snatch their dwelling house and property.

Incident 8: On 8 September 2009, The Daily Prothom Alo published news titling as

“Attack on Adibashi Minority People for grabbing the land in Norail District”.

Incident 9: On 9 September 2009, The Daily Vorer Kagoj published that some

unidentified perpetrators entered into two Temples, broken Hindu Durga and Kali deities’

desecrated temple at Kumar Khali –Kushtia district of Bangladesh 

Incident 10: On 12.09.2009, The Daily Samakal published that a Hindu businessperson

assaulted at Gournadi under Barishal district.

Incident 11: On 12 September 2009, The Daily Samakal published news stating that a

Bappi Halder member of Chatra League demanded ample amount of money from a

Hindu Businessperson namely Bakta Roy.

Incident 12: On 12 September 2009, The Daily Samakal published news stating a Hindu

Minority name as Rabi Das (50), half dead kidnapped person, traced two weeks after his

abduction by police from Kaliakoir under Tangail district.

Incident 13: On 12 September 2009, “The Daily Prothom Alo” published relating to

attack again for lad grabbing on Hindu residents at Sutrapur under Dhaka city.

Incident 14: On 13 September, 2009, The daily Jaijaidin published a group of terrorists

was trying to blow up this plantation of a skilled Hindu person, namely Bishowjit Das, of

Aruakandi village of Madhukhali police station under Faridpur district had leased two-

acres of land in front of Dighilia Niribili Picnic Corner from Local chairperson Md. Jakir

Hossain Mia, at Raipur, six months before for three years for planting hybrid banana tree

intended for an independent person.

Incident 15: On 13 September, 2009, The Daily Jaijaidin published a group of land

grabber leading by Moinal Hossain is trying to evict a Hindu family Monto Das son of

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late Banomali Das of Kajiatal village of Darora Union under Muradnagar Upazila under

Cumilla district.

Incident 16: On 17 September, 2009, The daily Star published as titled “Indigenous girl

rescued, alleged abductor held” stating Athuibai Marma, 13, d/o, Mongsathowai Marma

was kidnapped on September 4 from Nagbaipara village under Guimara upazila in

Khagrachhari.

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