Hindu Mohajote demands reserved seats and separate elections

The Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote has demanded reserved seats and a separate election system for the minority community in all elections, including parliamentary and local government polls.

At a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity today (31 January), leaders of the organisation warned that the Hindu community would not participate in any election or go to polling stations if this demand was not met.

The event was organised in protest against the absence of what they described as constructive recommendations in the reform commission's proposal formed by the interim government to protect Hindu rights.  

Advocate Pradeep Kumar Pal, executive president of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote, said in a written statement, "If the current government does not accept the demand of the minority community for seat reservation and a separate election system in all spheres, including the national parliament and local government, the Hindu community will not participate in any election and will not go to polling stations.

"The Hindu community will not go to polling stations in any future election to be used as a tool to put others in power and simply to be beaten and chased away from their homes."

He proposed that out of 350 parliamentary seats, 42 should be reserved for religious minorities—38 for Hindus, three for Buddhists, and one for Christians.

Additionally, he suggested that four seats for Hindus and two for Buddhists should be reserved from women's reserved seats.

"The competing parties will nominate members according to the votes received across the country. This will give equal status to Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, indigenous, and Christian members of parliament. Voters of their respective communities will vote," he said.  

Pradeep Kumar Pal argued that political parties had never nominated minority candidates in proportion to their population.

"Due to joint elections, in 55 years of independence, the Hindu community has not been able to send their proportional representatives to any parliament. Only one MP could be elected from BNP, two to three from Jatiya Party, and about 15 MPs from Awami League. There is a possibility that the upcoming parliament will be Hindu-free or have only one or two nominal representatives," he said.

He stated that proposals had been submitted to the Constitution Reform Commission and the Electoral Reform Commission, advocating for a separate election system to ensure minority representation.

"Despite our proposals, both commissions have ignored the demands and proposals of the Hindu community. The commission's proposal to form a bicameral parliament does not include any provisions to ensure minority representation in either the upper or lower house. Therefore, the Hindu community of Bangladesh vehemently rejects the proposal," he said.  

Pradeep Kumar Pal accused the Awami League of using the Hindu community as "political capital" since 1954 without contributing to its development.

He claimed that since independence, Hindus had faced repeated attacks, none of which had been prosecuted. He further alleged that after 1971, the Awami League government revived the Vested Property Act, leading to the occupation of 26 lakh acres of Hindu-owned land.

"On May 13, 1973, the Ramna Kali Temple, which was damaged in the Liberation War, was destroyed with bulldozers. Since then, various political parties have taken political advantage by repeatedly and arbitrarily amending the Constitution. The ruling parties have been taking political advantage by making the Hindu community a victim," he said.

Dinabandhu Roy, president of the organisation, said, "In elections, Hindu candidates who will participate in the elections can also vote for Hindus in other constituencies if they wish. Hindus, that is, minorities, will have the opportunity to vote for the candidates reserved for themselves in the elections."