Staff Reporter :
A discussion on ‘Kashmir and Politics in South Asia’ was held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (Sagar Runi Auditorium) on Saturday on the initiative of Desh Bachao Manush Bachao Andolan. The program was conducted and presided over by KM Rakibul Islam Ripon, president of the organizing body.
Chairman of Labor Party Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran commented that the Kashmir crisis is a threat to South Asia and the whole world. He said, India has destabilized the region by revoking the special autonomy (Article 370) of Kashmiris. The Government of India must leave the poison of communalism and give back the rights of the people of Kashmir. Reminding of Bangabandhu’s support for the Kashmiri people, he said that the government and people of Bangladesh should stand by the Kashmiris. He also mentioned that the Kashmir crisis should be resolved to protect the stability of South Asia through a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations.
Former Bangladeshi diplomat Shakib Ali said that Kashmir is very important to both India and Pakistan. Majority here are Muslims and they are regularly persecuted. People of all countries including Bangladesh should be vocal against this torture. In this regard, he stressed the importance of making SAARC effective. He emphasized on taking necessary steps to stop human rights violations in Kashmir. Security analyst Barrister Major (retd) Sarwar urged India to practise democracy in a non-communal spirit. He supported the rightful rights of Kashmiris and said that India should restore the rights of Kashmiri people by restoring Article 370. He thinks that decisions should be taken according to the opinion of Kashmiris by holding a referendum through the United Nations. He called for an early resolution of the Kashmir issue to preserve human rights and establish stable peace in South Asia and highlighted the plight of the youth there and the brutality of the armed forces of India against them.
Bangladesh Muslim League General Secretary Kazi Abul Khair said curfews, illegal detentions, murders, well-planned killings, sieges, homestead fires, torture, disappearances, rapes, torture of Muslim women and killings through fake encounters have become daily occurrences in Kashmir. He called for the urgent intervention of the international civil society and the United Nations to stop these deaths and torture. He urged the country’s government and political parties to support the freedom-seeking people of Kashmir. BJP is torturing the Muslims of Kashmir and India and exploiting Bangladesh as well. So now it is necessary to unite and resist India’s policy of aggression, he added.
