145 Bangladeshi citizens urge Indians to resist communal forces in India
People of both countries have always fought together against communalism, which creates divisions, say the signatories
As many as 145 eminent citizens of Bangladesh have urged citizens of India to resist communal forces in their country.
They said communalism is a major problem in this subcontinent.
The citizens declared in a statement on Friday that they would oppose communal forces and tendencies in Bangladesh and urged the people of India to oppose communalism in their own country.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Mentioning that Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations are in a sorry state, they said some Indian communal forces are continuously trying to disrupt the friendly ties between the people of this region.
The statement said rulers in the subcontinent have always used communalism as a tool to distract attention from education, health care, rising prices, and violence against women.
During political transitions, incidents of attacks on minority communities happen repeatedly, it added.
Saying they never equated the Indian citizens with the country's government, the signatories stressed they know that the people of India are also fighting against Hindutva forces and communalism. Bangladeshis have fought for a long time against the fascist Awami League (AL) regime and finally ousted it from power.
When the Bangladeshi people fought against tyranny in July and August, the people of India took to the streets in solidarity. For a long time, people on both sides of the border stood in solidarity with each other, reads the statement, adding that people of both countries have always fought together against communalism, which creates divisions.
It said when AL was in power, homes of Hindu people were attacked, properties grabbed, temples desecrated, and people were killed and left injured.
Similar incidents took place after the ouster of AL through the mass uprising on 5 August. However, this time, many political parties, inspired by the uprising, protected Hindu homes and temples, setting new examples of communal harmony, said the signatories.
Their statement further said that Indian media outlets have not been depicting the true picture of Bangladesh. Although the Indian government expressed regret over the incident of the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, it has not taken any effective step to stop the falsehood, it read.
In every country, communal forces and the ruling class benefit from false propaganda. They use communal sentiments to seize power, they said.
The statement said the Indian government's stance after the arrest of former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was surprising since there were allegations against him within the Hindu religious organisation, and it expelled him.
The signatories said they support Chinmoy's right to a fair trial, which is a right for everyone. But it was astonishing to see how swiftly India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement in his favour.
They said a chaotic situation ensued on the day Chinmoy, also the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, appeared in court, leading to the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
However, thanks to the collective efforts of the people of Bangladesh, no major unpleasant incident occurred in the wake of that event, they stressed.
Acknowledging and praising the significant role of the minority communities during the 1971 Liberation War, other democratic movements, and the July-August uprising, the eminent citizens said while communal groups exist in the country, the unity of the entire population is the only way to prevent their activities.
Problems faced by the people of Bangladesh and India are very similar, and communal divisions and violence will not solve them. The struggle is against division, tension, and hatred between communities, they said.
The 145 signatories included Prof Anu Muhammad, Prof Salimullah Khan, Prof Sayeed Ferdous, Prof Swadhin Sen, Prof Gitiara Nasreen, Prof Kamrul Hasan Mamun, Prof Tuhin Wadud, Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua, writer and journalist Altaf Parvez, writer Rahnuma Ahmed, musician Shayan, central member of Jatiya Nagorik Committee Pritom Das, and Associate Professor Samina Luthfa.
