by Abul Momen
Even
if Hindu persecution has been a regular feature in the realm of Bangladesh ever
since 1971 as a sequel to anti-Hindu riots in erstwhile East Pakistan, the
recent development in both Baghaichari and Khagrachari raises question of the
stance and also obligation of majority Muslim community to the minority Hindu
community there. Pakistan was based on two-nation theory and owing to its foundation
in a highly partisan and frenzied philosophy, it has failed to have support of
the minority community thus far.
Mutual
distrust and hatred among Hindus and Muslims, after sharing courtyards for almost
ten centuries, got all-time high in the year 1946 and both riots of Kolkata and
Noakhali intensified this new (then) saga only. Generally, mutual trust and
opinion had been more in rural than urban Bengal but the Noakhali episode
despoiled it largely. Due to the partition, 11 lakhs of Hindus left East
Pakistan in 1947. The majority of them were persecuted, terrified Hindu
refugees albeit three-and-half lakh were rural middle class people, two lakhs
of them were well-heeled peasants and workers. During partition, 29 percent of
the entire population in then East Bengal (now Bangladesh) comprised minority
people but it was found to be 25% during the census in 1951. If the following
censuses are analyzed minutely, a steady reduction in minority populace will be
witnessed and this declination has led to the present situation – minority
population in Bangladesh now amounts to 12 %. Earnest researches can discern
that millions of minority people have left the country in the last 60 years.
Unfortunately, this trend is yet to end; neither the State nor the society is
serious to call it a halt.
A
novel notion has come to the fore these days and it is to evaluate riotous
situation in Bangladesh with regard to numbers and extent of Hindu-Muslim riots
in India. Since India is not a communal country and its jurisprudence has
constitutional obligation to retain the Right to Equality, Muslim and other
minority groups have opportunities to vie with these catastrophes. Studies proclaim
albeit there have been hundreds of Hindu-Muslim riots in the last 60 years in
the realm of India, those have not led to expulsion of minority groups – riots
in ’47, ’50 and ’64 happen to be exceptions. This can be assessed better if
flights from and entrances to Bangladesh are studied. A close eye on societal
evolutions in Bangladesh can posit the stronger trend among the two.
Pakistan
was not formed on a two-nation theory only; measures adopted by its successive
governments proved to be potent enough to smash minority morale. Nehru-Liaqat
Pact signed in 1950 pledged to render Right to Equality to minority population
in both countries but it was never abided by Pakistani governments. On the contrary,
repressive measures were adopted to expel Hindus from Pakistan. Let’s
concentrate on a few examples. Two legislations were passed in the Constituent
Assembly of Pakistan in 1951 that virtually imperiled properties of minority
community in the whole nation. These are – East Bengal Evacuee Property
(Restoration of Possession) Act of 1951 and East Bengal Evacuees
(Administration of Immovable Property) Act of 1951.
It
must be mentioned, Hindu society, thanks to its cordial relation to the British
Empire, overshadowed Muslims in almost every aspect. Hindus, naturally, owned
more properties than Muslims. The situation in eastern part of Bengal was no
different. Partition and execution of abovementioned statute laws simply scourged
Hindus and a section of Muslims pounced down on these preys. A new trend to
seize Hindu properties by sheer intimidation or force came to the fore.
One
facet has got be cleared now. This phenomenon and its burgeoning influence in
Bangladesh has become a cause of concern to me for years. Without a shred of
doubt, this menacing concept has become ingrained in Bangladeshi society by now
leading to pernicious impacts only and unless this is uprooted, any development
or progress in our society will remain a dream only.
Hindus,
by the active support of State on the whole, have been reduced to second-grade
citizens in Bangladesh. Two more legislations were also passed and enacted
later to crush Hindu morale utterly and there was indeed a great success in
these regard. These two laws are – East Bengal Prevention of Transfer of
Property and Removable Documents and Records of 1951; East Pakistan Disturbed
Person (Rehabilitation) Ordinance of 1954. As a result, minority Hindus lost
their right to sell off properties independently and governmental permission to
do the same became indispensable. With the support of Pakistan (Administration
of Evacuee Property) Act XII of 1957 and 1959, military ruler Ayub Khan declared
election of six distinguished leaders of minority community as unlawful. (EBDO)
Hindus realized once more how the whole of Pakistan was vindictive to them. The
venomous and prolonged Enemy Property Act was enacted in Pakistan against
Hindus as fallout of temporary war between India and Pakistan in 1965. This
single act has been active yet and if truth be told, its sinister effect has
razed Hindus to the ground. Following the war in 1964 and enactment of this
law, migration of Hindus became all-time high. During the Muktijuddha, Hindus
were termed as the sole enemy by the Pakistani government, Pakistani army and
its accomplices then. No less than 70 lakhs of Hindus took refuge in India, as
a result.
It
must also be mentioned, whatever the obstacles and premeditated persecutions
were, Hindus were connected to mainstream politics and society in the Pakistani
regime. They also had the earnest desire to live in Bangladesh without fear and
any sort of terrorism. But now they have become despondent of their future. Not
Bangladesh has failed to protect them only, status of Hindus remains unchanged
here yet – they are still second-graded citizens like the Pakistani regime.
Well, I am ready to term the desecration of holy Hindu deities (just after
impendence) as a maneuver by pro-Pakistanis to harass the then newly founded
and independent government. But what did the State do? Following 1975,
Bangladesh was transformed into another edition of Pakistan; not secularism was
erased from the constitution or state religion bill was passed only but Vested
Property Act was turned into a more brutal form also. Hindus were persecuted
once more following the destruction of Babri Masjid in 1989 and fall of Ershad
regime in 1990.
Now,
whenever partition and following decades are analyzed it gets apparent –
neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh has procured minority communities or kept
partisanship at bay. Simultaneously, anxieties rise extremely when attempts to
seize Hindu properties become genetic.
There
is a specific reason behind penning aforesaid anecdotes – the majority
community retains a strong indisposition of rising atrocities against the
minority community; it has never tried to find out why are minority people
being victimized unreasonably leading to their migration and how each such loss
makes Bangladesh wretched. How can a
country develop if a definite section of its populace remains in constant
fright and continues to have bruises of partition? Is this possible at all? We
have begun to pay prices for this disinclination; politics in Bangladesh has
become a mere profession and the best tool to acquire properties of others. And
thanks to this steady deterioration, criminalism has got the potency.
To
better the country, new concepts have to be implemented – it is to create Right
to Equality throughout the country; a law that will treat every citizen
equally. Poor Muslims have also become victims to reprisals in Baghaichari. Now
it’s the time to resolve mounting hostility based on Parbattya Chattagram
Agreement instead of inciting these hapless Muslims. But before that the sordid
account of minority persecution and rising criminalism among a section of
majority community has to be discerned.
We
have to accept mistakes and rectify those.
