Govt, opposition must work together to protect rights of Hindus: Jamaat Ameer

The government and the opposition must work together to protect the rights, security, and interests of the Hindu community, said Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman at a meeting with minority group leaders.

The meeting was held at his official residence, Mintoo Road in the capital on Wednesday.

“Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and members of ethnic minority communities—we are all Bangladeshis and proud citizens of this country. Protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty is a sacred responsibility for all of us,” Shafiqur told the Hindu leaders.

After the meeting, a press briefing was held, where Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar outlined the exchanges between the two sides.

“We must work together, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, for the country’s development and prosperity,” Porwar quoted the opposition leader as saying.

The Jamaat secretary general said Hindu community leaders had praised the assistance and role played by Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists in ensuring the security of religious ceremonies, puja mandaps, and temples belonging to the Hindu community following 5 August 2024.

He added that participants had highlighted various problems, discrimination, deprivation, and difficulties faced by the community. The opposition leader assured them that the government and opposition would work together to address these issues.

Porwar further said the concerns and problems raised by Hindu community leaders would be given serious consideration. He added that dialogue with them would continue in the future and that the party would extend its cooperation in fulfilling its responsibilities toward the community.

Hindu leaders call for communal harmony and equal rights

Speaking on behalf of the Hindu community at the meeting, senior Supreme Court lawyer Subrata Chowdhury thanked and extended greetings to the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami and the opposition leader for inviting Hindu community representatives ahead of the Durga Puja.

He said people of all religions, ethnic backgrounds, and political affiliations must work together to advance the country’s social, political, and economic development. He emphasised that Bangladesh’s progress and communal harmony must be strengthened through mutual empathy and cooperation.

He expressed hope that Jamaat-e-Islami would play an important role in this regard in the future.

Hindu community leaders said that establishing Bangladesh as a country of communal harmony would require ensuring equal rights, security, and dignity for all citizens not merely through statements but also through practical action.

Highlighting various problems and instances of deprivation faced by their community, they urged the government and opposition to take joint initiatives to resolve these issues.

Both sides emphasised the importance of maintaining mutual communication, cooperation, and communal harmony.

Also present at the meeting were Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, assistant secretary general and secretary of the party’s Central Publicity and Media Department; and Central Executive Council members Mobarak Hossain and Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud MP, among others.

Representatives of various Hindu community organizations also attended the meeting. They included Advocate Dinubandhu Roy, president of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote; Advocate Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, its secretary general; Narayan Chandra Sarkar, a presidium member; Partha Sarathi Ghosh, senior joint secretary general; and Amal Chowdhury, joint secretary general, along with other representatives.

Also present were Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, and acting general secretary Manindra Kumar Nath, along with other representatives; journalist Basudeb Dhar, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, and journalist Santosh Sharma, its general secretary.

Representatives of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), including its president Satyaranjan Barai and general secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, were also present.