On Sunday a seminar was organized in New York by the Bangladeshi minority
communities on Persecution of the minorities of Bangladesh. Big guys like
Benjamin Gillman, Chairman of the congressional committee on Middle-east and
South Asian Caucus and Anthony D. Winner, a powerful member of the
legislative department were present in that seminar. Many speakers in the
seminar alleged that under the patronage of the ruling coalition government
parties minority persecution in Bangladesh has taken a dangerous turn and it
was expressed that a deep sense of insecurity is prevailing among the
minorities in Bangladesh.
When the attention of the foreign minister of Bangladesh was drawn to the news
of
this seminar he replied to the Janakantha, a Bengali daily from Dhaka that,
there are no minorities in Bangladesh and he added that all these allegations
are false and fabricated. He said, people from all communities are living in
peace and harmony in Bangladesh (see for details Jankantha, 1st May).
Among other important persons present at the seminar were M.William,
chairman of American Jurist Association, Glen Rosario,a human rights activist
and Dr. D. Prakash Nandi, Chairman of World Jurist Association and Pro-vice
Chancellor of Denver University etc.
In his lecture as a chief guest Mr. Gillman, said after reading the reports
of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch about the minority rights
situation in Bangladesh, he has written a letter to Khelada Zia, Prime
Minister of Bangladesh in his capacity as the chairman of Congressional
Committee on Middle-east and South Asian Caucus. But he is yet to get a
reply from the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He said that he received a
letter from Said Hassan Ahmed, the Bangladeshi ambassador to US but
regretted that the letter contains no factual information. He further added
that "I am sure minority persecution in Bangladesh is happening under the
patronage of those who hold the power". He stressed the need of making
an
act to protect and maintaining peaceful co-existence of the minorities and
prevent the repetition of similar incidence of atrocities against the
minorities in that country.
(Compiled by JCC from various news sources)