Bangladesh’s minority organizations demand enactment of minority protection law

SEVERAL organizations representing religious minorities have protested against human rights violation of the communities in Bangladesh and called for minority protection legislation in the country. The organizations included The Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikyo Parishad, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Bangladesh Hindu League, reported DD. They demonstrated in  Dhaka on Saturday. The minority organisations demanded the implementation of their 7- point charter of demands including the enactment of the minority protection law. The demands include the reservation of 20 percent seats for minorities and the appointment of minorities at all levels of the administration. The organisations were protesting against the incidents of attack on minority communities in parts of Bangladesh. Demanding an end to attacks on minority communities, the organisations claimed that it is done by spreading rumours about hurting of religious sentiments. The local media reported that a similar protest was held in Chattogram under the banner of the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikyo Parishad. Speaking during the protest in Chattogram, General Secretary of the organisation Rana Dasgupta said that if the attacks don’t stop immediately, they will arrange a long march. The minority organisations demanded the implementation of their  7-point charter of demands including the enactment of the minority protection law. The demands include the reservation of 20 percent seats for minorities and appointment of minorities at all levels of administration. The Indian embassy in Dhaka has taken up vandalism cases against the minority with the concerned authorities in Bangladesh, said Ministry for External Affairs in the Delhi. Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson for MEA, said the government had seen reports of an incident of violence at  Muradnagar  Upazila of Cumilla in Eastern Bangladesh directed against the minority community. The law and order authorities of the neighbouring country are investigating. GOI  has been assured that they  are alert to prevent the occurrence of such incident, he said in a statement