This memorandum is a powerful appeal addressing concerns about minority rights and regional cooperation. It has been submitted with the goal of achieving positive outcomes and meeting all raised demands, highlighting the critical need to ensure the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. It has been handed over to Ruhul Amin, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner, Guwahati.
Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Address the Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh.
Key Issues Highlighted:
- Violence Against Minorities: Escalating violent assaults on Hindu and Buddhist communities, causing widespread fear.
- Desecration of Places of Worship: Targeting religious sites of Hindus and Buddhists.
- Targeted Killings: Alarming rise in reports of systematic assaults and killings of minorities.
- Property Looting: Organized theft and dispossession of minority-owned properties.
- Arson Attacks: Systematic burning of homes and establishments of minorities.
- Arrest of Religious Leaders: Specifically, the detention of ISKCON priest Chinmaya Das Prabhu, signaling targeted oppression of spiritual figures.
Demands to the Government of Bangladesh:
- Ensure safety and rights of minorities.
- Immediate release of Chinmaya Das Prabhu.
- Prosecute offenders through fast-track courts.
- Implement measures to restore communal harmony.
Call for a Permanent Solution:
- Advocating for the establishment of a separate homeland for minorities within Bangladesh to ensure their safety and dignity.
Appeals:
- To the Prime Minister of India: To take diplomatic and strategic measures similar to the 1971 Mukti Yuddho to ensure the survival and welfare of minorities.
- To the Secretary General, United Nations Human Rights-Geneva, Switzerland: To impose sanctions and initiate measures to protect minorities.
Signatories: Various organizations and leaders from the northeast Indian states, including Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, emphasizing regional solidarity for the cause has complete faith that it’s the time to act and trust that the esteemed office will address these pressing issues with urgency and advocate for justice, security, and harmony in Bangladesh.
Suri Dipak Dey, President of the All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation, Shri Vishnu Bhattakat, Chairman of the Forum Nagaland Linguistic Minorities Forum, and all the esteemed signatories of the following organizations:
- BTR Bengali Youth Students Federation,
- Meghalaya Linguistic Minorities Development Forum, Shillong,
- Pensar-a-Bangiya Asomiya Samaj, Assam,
- Karbi Anglong Bengali Samaj, Assam,
- Brihottor Barpeta Road Bangali Samaj, Assam,
- Bangali Suraksha Samiti, Assam,
- Coordination & Welfare Committee, Bholaganj, Shora & Adjoining Area (CEC SB),
- Hindu Rakshi Dal, Guwahati,
- along with Chittaranjan Paul, Chief Convenor of the North East Hindu Bengali United Forum, Guwahati, Assam.
