Mohammad Yunus. (File photo)
The minority Hindu community in Bangladesh has clearly announced that they will not participate in any national election until they get reserved seats and separate election arrangements in Parliament. This warning was given on Friday during the Human Series and Protests held outside the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Leaders of Bangladesh National Hindu Mahasabha say that every national election is not less than any punishment for the Hindi community. In the absence of reserved seats and separate election systems, Hindus have no attendance in Parliament. Due to this, they have to face harassment for years. The leaders have said that if the government does not pay attention to their demands, then the Hindu community will separate the polling stations and separate itself from the democratic process.
Allegations of attack, arrest and property grabbing
The protest program was attended by Hindu Mahasabha President Dinbandhu Roy, Executive Chairman Pradeep Kumar Pal, General Secretary Govind Chandra Pramanik and other senior leaders of the organization. Speakers at the protest meeting condemned the arrest of Paresh Chandra Sheel and Vishnupad Sheel in Lalmanirhat for insulting religion. He called it an example of increasing atrocities on Hindus, calling it a false trial. The meeting also opposed the incidents of temples and sculptures, attacks on Hindu houses, violence with women, land grab and forced conversion.
“Our land, our temple – was taken away”
Speakers alleged that so far about 26 lakh acres of property of the Hindu community have been seized under the 'Enemy Property Act'. Many temples and properties related to deity have also been illegally occupied in Dhaka. The leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha said that after the independence of Bangladesh, people hoped that all religions would get equal rights, but the truth is that there is no participation of Hindu community anywhere from administrative structure to constitutional reform. Even his opinion is not taken in constitutional amendments.
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