January 16, 2002

To:

The Honorable Khaleda Zia

Prime Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Office of the Prime Minister

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Cc:

Mary Ann Peters

Ambassador, US Embassy, Dhaka

David Preston

High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission, Dhaka

RE: Protect the Temples: Bring the Criminal to Justice and Ensure the Security of the Hindu Minorities

Honorable Prime Minister,

The Human Right Congress for Bangladesh Minorities- Dallas/Fort Worth (HRCBM-DFW) has been following the ATTACK ON GOD SHANI TEMPLE AND DEMOLITION OF THE ICON at Shakhari Bazaar and the sequence of events that followed with grave concern. It is reported that the Hindus at Shakhari Bazaar are being held hostage in their own homes and that they have been arrested in the hundreds. The deplorable situation of the minority Hindu community existing at Shakhari Bazaar and all over Bangladesh has been widely reported throughout the world. We protest and condemn the violation of the human rights, freedom of expression and religion of the minority Hindus, and the inhuman conditions that they have been subjected to.

Madam Prime Minister, you are aware of the Fatawa given at Narayanganj (Prothom Alo, January 6, 2002) by Mr. Delwar Hussain Syeedi, your coalition partner and a member of the parliament, where he called upon the Muslims “to rise and demolish all sculptures and Idols in Bangladesh” on January 6, 2002. He also asserted that “Fatawas, not the court, will dictate the justice system of Bangladesh”. Just two days later, on Tuesday, January 8^th, 2002, Kamal Mohammad Hanif, son of Abdul Mannan Bhyiyan of Patla Khan Lane, Dhaka, entered the “God Shani Temple at Shakhari Bazar at about 5 PM and damaged the Deity of Goddess Kali and the temple”. Kamal Mohammad Hanif carried out the orders of your coalition partner, Mr. Syeedi, verbatim! He shouted, “he will not keep any Deity (Murti) in Bangladesh” (http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/jan/09/09012002cr.htm#A3); http://www.dailystarnews.com/200201/10/n2011001.htm#BODY6

http://www.dailystarnews.com/200201/09/n2010901.htm#BODY12

The innocent minority Hindu community peacefully protested this violation of basic human rights and freedom of religion and expression. And they were attacked again. The police watched the attackers commit this barbaric act in the name of Islam and arrested 700- 800 protesters and filed false cases against six of the protesters, instead of punishing the criminals. “Shakhari Bazaar looks like a besieged neighborhood”, reports Janokantha, January 14, 2002.

Madam Prime Minister, is this the Bangladesh we fought for? Is this the Bangladesh for which millions of her valiant sons and daughters sacrificed themselves? We dreamed of a secular and democratic Bangladesh where all her citizens will thrive above caste and creed and live in peace and harmony.

The attack on Temple and demolition of the Deity of Goddess Kali resembles the demolition of the statue of Lord Buddha by the Taliban regime in Afgasnistan. You are aware of the events that followed in Afghanistan. The civilized world would not tolerate this kind of heinous act of violence and the act of communal hatred by any individual, government or religious group. Fundamentalism and those who propagate communal and racial hatred are the greatest enemies of the civilized world. There is no difference between those who demolished the statue of Lord Buddha, those who committed the worst single act of terrorism ever on September 11 at the World Trade Center, and those who are perpetrating pogrom on the minorities, Hindus in particular, preplanned by BNP-Jamaat-E-Islam coalition since October 2001 general election. The sanctity of all religious institutions must be ensured in a civilized society. Civil and human rights must be protected for all citizens of the country.

The peace and freedom loving people and governments all over the world including the US, Canada, Australia, UK and India have expressed their grave concerns on the well being of the minorities and against on-going violation of religious and human rights including freedom of press in Bangladesh since you came to power.

Madam Prime Minister, we, on behalf of the HRCBM-DFW, urge your government authorities to: (1) immediately drop all charges against the innocent minorities arrested during the peaceful protest and release them unconditionally; (2) rescue the “besieged minority community of Shakhari Bazaar”; (3) bring back law and order; (4) give exemplary punishment to Kamal Mohammad Hanif and his collaborators so that nobody dare to attack any religious institution again; (5) ensure safety, security and freedom of the minority community; (6) protect the sanctity of the places of worship; (7) stop fundamentalist and racial elements from spreading communal hatred and violence. We are afraid that, if the situation is not brought under control and the criminals to justice immediately, the world will witness another genocide of the Hindus in Bangladesh!

Sincerely,

Human Right Congress for Bangladesh Minorities of Dallas/Fort Worth (HRCBM-DFW), Texas, USA