Bangladesh's largest minority community platforms have raised concerns about “an uncalled for interference from foreign powers which is emboldening communal and radical forces in the country.”
“A sense of panic has gripped the minority communities as foreign powers are increasingly trying to exert influence ahead of the next national election,” Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Advocate Rana Dasgupta said.
“We are particularly appalled and dejected that some global powers are emboldening forces that were against Bangladesh’s independence during the Liberation War, just as they did in 1971,” the minority community leader added.
At a press conference held yesterday, minority community platforms also sought measures to ensure uninterrupted celebration during the upcoming Durga Puja (mid October), recalling the government’s support that ensured violence-free puja celebrations at a record number of pandals last year.
Days earlier, Dasgupta was among 190 eminent citizens, including rights activists, journalists, writers, anti-war crimes campaigners, and minority community leaders, who expressed disappointment over US Ambassador Peter Haas’ justification for visa restrictions on media and journalists, saying that it did not offer “substance” as the move contradicted core tenets of freedom of press.
“In our country, we found media taking up an instrumental role in creating awareness against radical forces, militants, and terrorist outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami that consists of war criminals and seeks to eliminate progressive and secular forces including religious and ethnic minorities and establish a Taliban style rule in Bangladesh,” the statement read.
The statement also noted that Haas’ remark on imposing visa restrictions on the media “has been glorified by radical outfits and anti-liberation quarters that publicly decry Western values, deems free thinkers as enemies of Islam, and vouches for impunity for war criminals who committed genocide and crimes against humanity in 1971.”
“Basherkella – a social media platform that acts as a mouthpiece for Jamaat-e-Islami, advocates for impunity of war criminals and reportedly stands exposed for running hate campaign against secular and liberal forces alongside minorities as well – has already hailed the US ambassador’s remark on inclusion of media under visa restrictions and called him ‘a true friend of Bangladesh’,” according to the statement.
“It sends a chilling message for every secular person,” the statement said.
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