report in The Daily Star, June 25, 2023
The number of minority population has not reduced by half under the Awami League-led government, but the policies leading towards a decline in minority population continues under this government, said Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, yesterday.
He made the remark refuting the claim made by six Congressmembers in a letter to the US president that the Hindu population has been halved since Sheikh Hasina’s rise to power.
While addressing a meeting at the Bangladesh Medical Association in Dhaka, he also expressed concern about a vested group’s attempt to create instability by targeting minorities ahead of the national election.
“Their only goal is to make the country minority-free,” he said.
He further shared their plans to inform foreign embassies in Bangladesh and all political parties about the situation.
During the programme, speakers reiterated their ongoing movement demanding the implementation of promises made by the Awami League-government in their election manifesto concerning minority communities.
They called for the enactment of a minority protection law, the establishment of the National Commission on Minorities Affairs, the fulfillment of the CHT Accord, the creation of a separate land commission for the ethnic population of the plains, and other relevant measures.
The participants emphasised the importance of addressing the situation of minorities in the pre-election scenario and urged the government to take immediate action to safeguard their rights and well-being.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-undermines-democracy-steals-votes-quader-3354916
