Author:
Publication: Amnesty International
Date: December 1, 2001
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/ASA130062001?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\BANGLADESH
Amnesty International has been concerned
about the situation of members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh over
the past several months. Following the general elections on 1 October which
were won by a coalition led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) with a
large majority, BNP supporters reportedly attacked Hindus because of their
perceived support for the rival Awami League party during elections. Hundreds
of Hindu families were reportedly driven off their land by groups affiliated
to the BNP-led coalition who, in some cases, allegedly burnt their homes
and raped Hindu women. Several Hindus were reportedly killed. Amnesty International
is calling on the Government of Bangladesh to bring to justice perpetrators
of these attacks regardless of their position in society or in any political
party.
Amnesty International is also calling
for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoner of conscience Shahriar
Kabir, a journalist who has sought to publicise abuses against Hindus.
Discrimination against Hindus
Hindus in Bangladesh have tended
to vote for and support parties such as the Awami League. They have therefore
been the target of a political backlash by supporters of parties opposing
the Awami League.
As a minority community in Bangladesh
sharing a language and religion with the Indian populations of West Bengal,
Hindus have been subjected to discriminatory practices or attacks by Muslim
groups in Bangladesh. None of the governments in Bangladesh since its independence
has taken any decisive steps to protect Hindus in the face of potential
threats, including the current attacks.
While both Hindu men and women have
been subjected to attacks and intimidation, Hindu women have been also
subjected to sexual violence. As a state party to the International Convention
on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the Bangladesh
Government is required to take steps without delay to eliminate discrimination
against all women in Bangladesh. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women has identified gender-based violence which includes rape,
as a form of discrimination (General Recommendation 19 of 1992).
Attacks against Hindus
The current wave of attacks against
the Hindu community in Bangladesh began before the general elections of
1 October 2001 when Hindus were reportedly threatened by members of the
BNP-led alliance not to vote, since it was perceived their vote would be
cast for the Awami League. The backlash after the elections was systematic
and severe. Reports indicate that the worst affected areas have been in
Barisal, Bhola, parts of Pirojpur, Khulna, Satkhira, Gopalganj, Bagerhat,
Jessore, Commilla and Norsingdi. Attackers have reportedly entered Hindu
homes, beaten members of the family, looted their property and in some
cases, raped Hindu women.
One of the affected villages was
Ziodhara. Fear of backlash created a severe atmosphere of tension in the
village. Several hundred Hindu villagers left for fear of being attacked
and Hindu children would not attend schools. In another village, Deuatala
Bazaar, gangs of young men wielding sharp weapons reportedly went from
door to door telling Hindus to ''go away''. Hundreds of Hindu villagers
reportedly left the village.
Photo caption: Bangladeshi Hindu
families who crossed into neighbouring West Bengal as a result of attacks
on Hindus in Bangladesh gather to receive food from Indian villagers in
the borders village of Badalpur, 420 km north of Kolkata [Calcutta] on
8 November 2001 © Reuters.