Meanwhile, the Indian government has also expressed its grave concern over the safety and security of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Being asked by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka conveyed the Indian government’s concern to Prime Minister’s Office. We do not know exactly in what terms concern has been expressed and remedy suggested. Our view is clear that not only India any country has the obligation to condemn violation of human rights, no matter what the victims’ religion or class. That is why protection of human rights is a universal concern.
We have already condemned the attack and demanded swift action against the culprits in an earlier editorial but renewed attack on Hindu homes and temples at some other districts is quite outrageous. The political leadership of the government and the police and local administration in particular have proved utter failure to rein in the situation when the Awami League government claims to achieve great communal harmony.
We must say members of the Hindu community have been living peacefully side-by-side with Muslim population all over the country over the generations. It is clear that some vested quarters have made the post in the facebook of a local Hindu boy to create communal tension. The expulsion of three local Awami League leaders for leading the attack on Hindu homes made it amply clear why the local administration remained inactive. Anger against the government’s extremism certainly played a role.
We have been advising the government not to create extremism, be that communal or otherwise by using extreme police power. Politics is too intolerant. Human rights must be protected for all, it cannot be protected for any favourable class in isolation.
India must know who are pretending to be close friends of India, and whose over-enthusiasm as freedom fighters, has been encouraging communal disharmony by harping all the time on the need of fighting communalism. Our people have not been communal and were living in communal harmony. These fighters of communalism have no connection with the people and some of them need all time police protection for telling our people how anti-communal we are. They should be denied special protection.
We hope India will appreciate that all human rights violations are to be condemned if the people are to live in harmony. Communal harmony must mean unity and togetherness for enjoying human rights and justice. Politicisation of police and police excesses are no guarantee for human rights. Democracy and the rule of law are the best guarantor of human rights. The people are helpless as the police are fully controlled by the government. The police are not for politics.
We all know India’s special relationship with Bangladesh and we expect our government to receive sensible advice from India.
