Wild Card for peace and calm in Bangladesh lies with Hindus ? ::::::: Being a Hindu in Bangladesh is perhaps the worst thing !!!

 Wild Card for peace and calm in Bangladesh lies with Hindus ? 

New Delhi 

The Hindu population in Bangladesh could be a microscopic minority. Yet they are not safe -- killed, humiliated and discriminated against. 

Amid political turmoil in that country; yet there are players and playground that show Hindus perhaps matter a lot even as this crucial factor is most often ignored while taking a big picture understanding of the changing political dynamics in Bangladesh.

Several Hindu residents including Awami League supporters in various parts of the country now say -- it is the Hindus who are often latent decisive force.

"If safety and security of Hindus are ensured .... The Hindus can help Bangladesh as a nation to change the course of its future journey," says one Hindu trader who has roots in Jessore region.

The argument also being that there are a number of villages and small hamlets which "do not have single Muslim family". This is not by any design ..... This has actually happened or unfolded by default or pure socio economic factors.

Agreeing with this version, one Sylhet-based educationist said -- "Life may be complex but certain things in life is also simple. People stay in a place or village simply because they love the place. There may not be very convincing explanation either. The same yardstick applies when some people may refuse to stay in one place".

There is a feeling that from geo-strategic point of view, an ensured safety and security of Hindus and other religious minorities can bring out their best.

It could be a surprising argument. Bengal Hindus are not work shirkers in Bangladesh because they know in such a country gripped by Islamic radicals and official discrimination their only best friend is their willingness to work hard and their skills. The Marxists' taught trade unionism as in Kolkata or other parts of West Bengal or even Kerala and Tripura have not touched Bengali Hindus of Bangladesh.

Compared to poor Muslims - keen Bangladeshi observers claim - the Bengal Hindus -- especially below poverty lines - are most hard working lot in Bangladesh and have potentials to do well in multiple sectors.

The suggestion is that even stakeholders in New Delhi and their associates can actually work on 'project Hindus in Bangladesh purely from socio-economic point of view. This factor may in the long run help bring calmness as against the present chaos in that country which shares borders with multiple Indian states. 

One Bangladeshi politician when quizzed on these lines says  --  "Stability among Hindus in particular can actually bring greater stability, normalcy, peace and development in Bangladesh. Many may not know; Hindus hold substantial land control and this may have implications economically". 

There are other facets. Analysts believe rather strongly that the entire Muslim population in Bangladesh are not pro radicals or Jamaat. In contrast the Muslim population is segregated.

There are a substantial numbers who are atheists and what is not known outside Bangladesh is that -- they have sided with religious minorities like Hindus, Buddhists and Christians and had opposed fundamentalism in the past.

One retired technocrat says - the Hindus and atheists and some Muslims who are pro-Left liberal can actually work jointly to stall Bangladesh turn into a neo Taliban as was the case with Afganistan.

"Everyone who sees reason is against making another Afghanistan out of Bangladesh... People will not accept that," said a woman activist adding - "Once Jamaat wins .. we will have Talibani system imposed here. Women education and work in public offices will be banned'.

The argument goes religious fundamentalism must have risen in the past 18 months under Yunus but apparently one positive impact has been common Bangladeshi intellectuals and citizens have realised that going pro Pakistan or typically anti India did not help the development-starved Bangladesh as a nation. 

India not only spent Rs 7000 crore for Liberation War of Bangladesh but also sacrificed lives of 3630 officers and jawan of Indian army, where 213 officers and jawans were missing and about 9856 officers and jawans were wounded.

"The bloods of these soldiers are mixed with the soil of Independent Bangladesh" - says the book ' Contribution of Tripura in Liberation War of Bangladesh' penned by Salam Azad, writer and human rights activist, Dhaka. 

Many Bangladeshi citizens have complaint against 'illegal infiltrators' friendly political parties in India -- that is the Congress, the Left and now the Trinamool Congress under mamata Banerjee. 

"This variety of secularism was hardly aimed at helping Muslims. These parties worked only for their votebank in Assam and West Bengal. This made poor Bangladeshis lazy and callous. They thought they can simply crossover into border areas of India and then change their fortunes," said one retired teacher.

He cites several examples of 1990s wherein Bangladeshi labourers would crossover to India along Assam (Karimganj) and West Bengal (along Malda-Sitai) region; work during day time and return home by evening. As a result; the Bangladeshi Muslim youths either fell into wrong hands of Islamic fundamentalists or were satisfied doing odd jobs like smuggling etc.

Wrap up

While facing challenges, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian communities are integral to the social fabric of Bangladesh, and their active involvement in building, rather than just seeking, peace is essential for long-term stability.

But truth is crude and bitter.  Being a Hindu in Bangladesh is perhaps the worst thing to one individual and his family.  Anytime a mob may charge into your house, drag you outside, and you're done.

 Dipu Chandra Das’ case isn't an isolated incident. Every day, hate crimes against Hindus are increasing. Another Hindu Amrit Mondal, a 29-year-old man in Rajbari, was lynched by the public and his body was then set on fire. The same style as they did with Dipu.

This is the pattern -- the media can see this at times but do not see most often.

 The Yunus government has turned a blind eye to the sufferings of Hindus, giving the radical Muslims a free hand. Yunus sees India bashing and attacking Hindus as a policy that may allow him to continue in position or even become President under Jamaar or even under BNP.

Can he achieve this ?

The answer lies in the womb of time.

Ends