Non-Muslims persecuted in Bangladesh: Human Rights activist
Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
These days everyone seems to be or wannabe human right activists. After all, United States itself is a super-champion of human rights around the world. Isn't she?Anyway, communal tension as well as animosity against religious minorities are realities in many countries, in and around Bangladesh. However, as a Muslim if I only care about when Muslim minorities are victimized elsewhere and if a Hindu only cares about when Hindu minorities are victimized in different places, then it can be some kind of human rights activitism, but quite self-centered. In Bangladesh, minorities are not comfortable and they live in fear - there is a great deal of truth to it. However, turning it into an India-led campaign, especially based on exaggeration and half-truths, is not quite effective human rights activitism.Unfortunately, the job of people like Sitangshu Guha and whomever such people co-opt is quite focused - on more than the minority interests and issues.
This is the same Mr. Guha who also openly supports American invasion and occupation of Iraq by the United States. "Lets Support The War & The President" [http://mukto-mona.com/Articles/current_issue/support_bush.htm]
This is the same Mr. Guha, a HRCBM activist, who supported HRCBM's campaign with the United Nation, where in a petition it was stated that in 1971 three million HINDUS were killed. [http://www.petitiononline.com/HRCBM101/petition.html]
This is the same Mr. Guha, who wants "America as leader of the free world should take the lead," to stop persecution of Hindus/minorities by Muslims in Bangladesh. [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/message/4880]
Does he not know that this same country, the United States, stood by Pakistan against the Independence struggle of Bangladesh and even supplied weapons to a regime that was committing one of the worst genocides of 21st century? Would America support a war crime tribunal for 1971 genocides?
Anyway, regardless of what happens elsewhere and whoever says or does what, Bangladesh as an independent nation must take appropriate measures to protect its minorities as well as make them feel at home. Nothing less.
By the way, I was in Bangladesh during last June-July 2003. I attended friday prayer both in Dhaka and in one of the remotest rural areas of the country. I did not hear or sense anything that the congregation was getting ready or being prepared for any program after the friday prayer or during that afternoon. Of course, I am not drawing any tall conclusion from my limited personal observation and experience. But if the so-called human right activists are making rather tall claims, then there must be a great number of such incidents. If anyone is aware about such widespread, organized, after-friday-prayer incidents that were reported in the media, I sure would like to know.
courtesy of Banglarights.net
