Hindus leaving country for lack of security
UNB, Dhaka Sat Jun 24, 2023 12:00 AM
Last update on: Sat Jun 24, 2023 07:37 AM
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy yesterday alleged that the Hindus, the largest religious minority in Bangladesh, are gradually leaving the country for lack of security.
“People of all classes and professions, regardless of religion and caste, came together in 1971 to fight for the independence of the country, firmly believing that persecution, exploitation and discrimination against caste and religion by Pakistanis are not conducive to a healthy political state,” he said.
He, however, regretted that the members of the Hindu community have gradually been leaving Bangladesh after independence.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club arranged by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Kalyan Front.
Gayeshwar, the chief advisor of the platform, said Hindus are not leaving the country by marching together in groups like in the 1964 riots. “But they’re leaving every day and we may not guess it. If we look at the statistics, we see that the number of Hindus is gradually decreasing.”
He said around 37 percent population of the territory of Bangladesh were Hindus in the 60s, but it has now come down to less than 10 percent. “That means the number of Hindus is decreasing gradually.”
About the reasons for the exodus of the minority community, the BNP leader said Hindus lack social security and are being deprived of their civil rights enshrined in the constitution.
Besides, he also said the administration does not give much importance to the complaints of religious minorities.
“The administration does not monitor the rights and security issues of the minorities. The sad fact is that the people of the minority communities in Bangladesh are neglected everywhere, including the court and administration,” the BNP leader said.
Gayeshwar said many Hindus of the country choose India as their second home as they fear they may not be able to stay in their birthplace. “They (Hindus) hold this mentality due to the failure of the administration and the state machinery. The state has failed to gain the trust of all communities that Bangladesh is for all of its citizens.”
