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Hindus face discrimination in Bangladesh: Refugees Int`tional
Washington, Aug 09: A US-based human rights organisation has claimed that religious minorities, especially Hindus, still face discrimination in Bangladesh even though the country has recently taken steps to protect minorities.
Washington, Aug 09: A US-based human rights organisation has claimed that religious minorities, especially Hindus, still face discrimination in Bangladesh even though the country has recently taken steps to protect minorities.
Refugees International, in its recently published report alleged that though Bangladesh provides for "freedom of religion", religious minorities "face restrictions in areas such as access to jobs in the government or military".
Claiming that upto "20,000 Hindus were displaced in recent years" due to communal violence, it demanded the Bangladesh government to comply with laws protecting religious minorities and establish an independent body to probe the attacks on Hindus in 2001.
The report alleged that "despite calls for a full, impartial and independent investigation of the 2001 attacks, the government of Bangladesh has taken no action to bring to justice the perpetrators".
The organisation also demanded that property appropriated under the Vested Property Act (VPA) from Hindus be returned to them according to a well defined timetable.
"In the absence of a specific date for the return, there is no way to monitor whether the property is being returned", it added.
It also recommended the Indian government to stop "threatening mass expulsion of Bangladeshis who have come to India whether as refugees or for economic reasons".
Bureau Report
Claiming that upto "20,000 Hindus were displaced in recent years" due to communal violence, it demanded the Bangladesh government to comply with laws protecting religious minorities and establish an independent body to probe the attacks on Hindus in 2001.
The report alleged that "despite calls for a full, impartial and independent investigation of the 2001 attacks, the government of Bangladesh has taken no action to bring to justice the perpetrators".
The organisation also demanded that property appropriated under the Vested Property Act (VPA) from Hindus be returned to them according to a well defined timetable.
"In the absence of a specific date for the return, there is no way to monitor whether the property is being returned", it added.
It also recommended the Indian government to stop "threatening mass expulsion of Bangladeshis who have come to India whether as refugees or for economic reasons".
Bureau Report