Bangladesh Hindus

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 further a

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 Chabot who chaired

"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.    “While engaging in peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right, we firmly

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