Bangladesh Hindus

Zee News Dhaka: Execution of a top leader of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami for war crimes in Bangladesh could lead to reprisal attacks on minority communities, especially Hindus, a leading human rights watchdog has warned.  Bangladesh executed Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah, infamous as the "Butcher of Mirpur", for 1971 war crimes last night, making him the first politician to be hanged for such crimes.  "At this volatile time many people including minority Hindus are at risk of reprisal attacks....They are at particular risk of violence now the execution has been carried out," said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International's Bangladesh Researcher.  "Authorities must ensure that anyone at risk, especially Hindus are given the protection they need at this tense time. Whole villages were burned down in the violence against Hindus this year and no one has been brought to justice," he said in a statement. "It is also crucial tha...

BJP on Thursday urged Bangladesh to stop alleged atrocities on the minority Hindus living there during the ongoing political unrest over the forthcoming general elections on December 5. A seven-member delegation of the BJP from West Bengal, including its president Rahul Sinha, met Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Abida Islam and submitted a memorandum. "The information we are getting from Bangladesh speak of attacks on the minority Hindus there. Along with the Hindus we are also receiving information about attacks on Christians and Buddhists," the memorandum said.   Alleging that the "atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh have taken an alarming proportion since last month", it said, "We respect Bangladesh's sovereignty but we are failing to understand why your country is not stopping them?"   "We have nothing to do with the political violence in that country, but that should not take a communal turn", Sinha ...

12 hurt in attack by 'Jamaat-Shibir men' S Dilip Roy, Lalmonirhat The Daily Star   A villager watches a shop vandalised and looted by Jamaat-Shibir activists at Ghoshpara village in Jongra union of Patgram upazila under Lalmonirhat district. The activists vandalised, torched and looted five shops and two houses of Hindus at the village yesterday, the third day of the main opposition BNP-led 18-party sponsored countrywide blockade programme. PHOTO: STAR     Hindus came under attack allegedly by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat for the second time in a month yesterday. The attackers beat up at least 12 women and children and torched and looted at least five shops and two houses at Ghoshpara village of Jongra union on the third day of the opposition-sponsored 71-hour blockade. The incident fuelled concerns over a fresh spell of attacks on the Hindus as men of the village have fled in fear of fur...

By Bhaskar Roy   It is about time that the United States Congress realized that the current political turmoil in Bangladesh may see a return of terrorism to Bangladesh.   Eradication of terrorism from the country was one of the top priorities of Sheikh Hasina when she took over prime ministership in 2009. She delivered on her promise. Bangladesh was fast becoming a new center of terrorism under the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) government. The Al Qaida was testing the grounds. The return of the Awami League led 14 party alliance government thwarted externally promoted and JEI spearheaded conspiracy to turn Bangladesh into a Wahabi Islamic country.   The Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs organized (November 20) a 90 minute hearing titled “Bangladesh in Turmoil : A Nation on the Brink”. An apt title for the subject, given the open threats the country is facing from its own constituents.   Representative Steve...

"Protect Hindu Rights" - Central Theme of Congressional Hearing on Bangladesh Washington, D.C. (November 21, 2013) -  Persecution of Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh took center stage at a Congressional hearing entitled ' Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink ,' hosted by the Subcommittee on Asia and Pacific yesterday.  Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affair Committee, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who served as the acting Ranking Member of the hearing, peppered witnesses with questions about concerns over growing radicalization and recent violence targeting Bangladesh's Hindu population.  The panel of three witnesses lacked any minority representation.   "I am particularly concerned over issues...regarding religious freedom and specifically over attacks on the minority Hindu community remaining in Bangladesh today," said Rep. Gabbard. "I think it's unfortunate that sometimes perpetrators of cri...

November 7, 2013 at 00:46   US concerned over attack on Hindus               Asks government to ‘act authoritatively’ against the perpetrators Expressing grave concern over the recent attack on Hindus in Pabna and Lalmonirhat districts, the US embassy has urged the government to protect the rights of the minority communities.   The call came through a statement issued on Wednesday by the embassy in Dhaka.   The statement read: “We call on all those involved in these incidents to desist from abusing the rights of minorities, and ask all parties to ensure they are stopped immediately and the perpetrators are held accountable.”   It asked the government to act authoritatively against those who incited and committed this violence. The statement also expressed concern over the deaths, injuries, and ongoing violence associated with hartals. ...

Human chain held in Patuakhali against attack by fundamental Muslim thugs on Hindu temples & Hindu people in Pabna, Bangladesh. ‏

  The Hindu community across the district will observe Shamshan Dipali Utsav at Maha Shamshanghat on friday, plus Dipabali and Diwali Utsav in their houses.   The special religious festival of Barisal Hindu community has a history of traditional worship of more than 160 years dating back in 1850.     The religious fervour takes place at the night before Kali Puja for blessings of the departed souls of near and dear ones.   Narayan Chandra Dey Naru, secretary, Barisal Maha Shamshan Rakkha Committee, said the Hindu community had been observing Maha Shamshan Dipali festival since 1850 only in Aadi Shamshan Ghat of Natun Bazaar and Maha Shamshan Ghat of Kawnia, two crematoriums in Barisal city.     Thousands of people from across the district attend the festival every year.   From Thursday, devotees started offering flowers and foods through rituals (Puja) and ...

Jaideep Mazumdar , TNN | Oct 13, 2013, 05.49 AM IST   DHAKA: She gave Dhaka her name. And though she has been attacked several times she remains an inspiring example of communal integration in Bangladesh. The best time to witness this is during Durga puja. The 800-year-old Dhakeshwari temple is like no other Hindu temple in the world. The national flag of Bangladesh is hoisted here every morning and even flies at half mast during official mourning. Durga puja at Dhakeshwari too is unique in many ways. It is a must-visit for not only the country's estimated 140 lakh Hindus, but also for the vast majority of Muslims here. Senior politicians of both the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party make it a point to drop by and greet puja revellers here. The long queues waiting to be served the rich bhuna khichuri served on Ashtami include Muslims too. Bijoya Sammilani (the post-puja social and cultural gathering) held in the temple grounds is a major event in Dhaka...

Sarbajanin Durga Puja has been started in Bangladesh and all over the world. Tomorrow Thursday is Saptami. According to The Daily Ittefaq, there are more that 28000 Durga mandaps have been set up in Bangladesh. Among them 214 mandaps are in Dhaka that is 10 more mandaps than last year. 14th Oct is government holiday in Bangladesh for Bijoya Dashami.   Happy Durga Puja.                                                                                           

  Dated 18-Aug-2013 Guest Column: By Kazi Anwarul Masud  The line of control along Jammu & Kashmir is being violated repeatedly. India accuses Pakistan of the violations that is denied by Pakistan.   In recent weeks the beheading of an Indian soldier and killing of five Indian soldiers- four from Bihar and one from Maharashtra-resulted in fury of the common people demanding that the killers be punished. Politics waded into these incidents by the confusing statements by the Defense Minister.   The first comment that the killers were wearing dresses of Pakistan army was seen by the opposition and the media as exonerating Pakistan and hence a clearer statement was asked for from the Defense Minister. The army chief visited the area nearby( his helicopter could not go to the area of fighting due to inclement weather) and on return reported to the Defense Minister who then gave a statement in Parliament that directly accused Pakistan of these violati...

    Idols vandalised at Durga Temple in Bhola Achinta Majumder, Bhola         Idols had been vandalised by fanatic thugs at night at a Sarbajanin Durga Temple in Tajumuddin upazilla of Bhola district. This terrible incident happened at midnight of last Monday at Daserhat Sanbajanin Durga Temple in the village of Aralia under union of Chandpur in Tajumudding upazilla.   General Secretary of Daserhat Sarbajanin Puja Celebration Committee Sri Choton Chandra Das told that devotees were at the temple until 2am. When everybody left the fanatic miscreants entered in the temple and vandalised Sri Ganesh idol. Devotees noticed the incident when they came in the temple next day (Tuesday).   Higher officers of administration including Upazilla Nirbahi Officer visited temple on Tuesday.   Officer in Charge of Tajumuddin thana Mr. Abul Hossain told that police posted for temple safety and investigation is...

Bdnews24.com http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/09/08/two-temples-vandalized Unidentified persons have vandalised idols at two temples of Hindu goddess Kali in Netrokona Sadar.   The desecrations of ‘Sharbojonin Kali Mondir’ at village Betati and ‘Sharbojonin Mondir’ at Jongolboruari village are believed to have taken place sometime during Saturday night, said Netrokona Model Police Station OC SM Mofizul Islam. A devotee, who came to make offerings at the temple in Betati around Sunday noon, discovered the broken idol. Netrokona Model Police Station OC SM Mofizul Islam and Nirmol Das, president of the District Pooja Celebration Committee, visited the temple. At Jongolboruari village the idols of goddess Kali and Mahadeb were found wrecked, said Nirmol Das and Pankaj Saha Roy, secretary of Upazila Pooja Celebration Committee. The vandal had broken into the temple and beheaded the idols and left the heads lying inside. OC SM Mofizul said he has heard of...

Created on August 28, 2013 at 01:14 Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra   Dhaka Trubune http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/aug/28/1100-year-old-pala-dynasty-temple-unearthed-dinajpur       Archaeologists from Jahangirnagar University (JU) have excavated an ancient Hindu temple at Belwa village of Ghoraghat upazila in Dinajpur. The massive brick structure has been identified as a Hindu temple from the Pala dynasty.   The chief of the project, Professor Syed Mohammad Kamrul, told journalists that the excavated site was under threat of destruction.   Swadhin Sen, associate professor of archaeology at JU, said the temple, approximately 1,100-years-old, was a major archaeological discovery in Bangladesh.   “Multiple deities were worshiped at the temple at the same time,” said Prof Sen.   He added that several fragments of black sandstone sculptures had been identified and documented from the excavation.   ...

Dated 12-Aug-2013 By Dr. Subhash Kapila   Introductory Observations   Bangladesh next General Elections could be held in 2013 at the year- end but since January 20 2014 is the outside limit as per the Constitution, they are being termed as General Elections2014. Therefore Bangladesh at the outside limit is only five months away from General Elections 2014 which could turn out as probably the most significant elections held so far.   Bangladesh stands today at crucial political cross-roads where the nation was engulfed in 2013 with incessant violence centred on the politics of national identity on one hand and opposed on the other side by political groupings banking on the religion of Islam in electoral politics, desperately bent on pushing Bangladesh towards an Islamist Caliphate.   The Shahbagh Protests that erupted in early 2013 were an expression, going by the large-scale participation of Bangladesh youth of both sexes and women protestors ...

Dated 06-Aug-2013 By Bhaskar Roy   On August 01, the Bangladesh High Court finally delivered a judgement warning those bent on reversing the spirit of liberation that the nation will not give up on its principles.    The court declared that the Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) Bangladesh’s registration with the Election Commission (EC) stood null and void.  This will debar the party from contesting the next elections.   The JEI is, however, free to appeal to the Supreme Court or change its constitution in line with the Constitution of the country and the Representation of Peoples Order (RPO).   The High Court verdict come on a public interest litigation filed by the secretary general of the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation’s (BTF) Rezaqul Haque Choudhary and 24 others in January 2009, challenging the legality of the JEI registration as a political party.  The matter could come up because the Supreme Court barred the use of religion in politics...