World community should prevent the native Bangladeshis becoming strangers in their homeland

By Sudhansu R Das 

Bangladesh is our neighbor. Attack on minority Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Buddhist communities and burning of religious places directly affects India’s economy, psychology, social and cultural life. As reported, the minority Hindu community in Muslim-majority Bangladesh faced more than 200 attacks in 50-odd districts following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government on 5th August.  There is widespread protest by people in the USA, Asia and European countries.  India can’t afford to wait and watch the Bangladesh citizens assembling on India’s border to escape the marauding mob attack. It is going to be like the pre 1971 situation when Bangladesh was formed; the native Bangladeshis suddenly found themselves strangers in their homeland.  The problem in Bangladesh is not about atrocity on minority communities only but something more horrific which the world community should address without much delay. 

It is the the thinking of people which has changed to hate fellow citizens who do not belong to their faith.  This dangerous Soch has made Bangladeshi citizens strangers in their home country overnight; those natives have been living there for centuries. They have immensely contributed to the economic, social and cultural development of Bangladesh.  The hatred filled mind has not developed overnight but it has been nurtured for decades in a systematic manner.  This very Soch will push Bangaladesh into the bottomless depth of perennial backwardness. The state is already neck deep in international debt and will bow down before the debtor countries for a mere survival and without freedom to decide what is good for their own country. Bangladesh’s Awami League politicians will witness unimaginable human tragedies in the years to come; the atrocities committed on their own citizens in their home country is unpardonable in any religion nor in any court of justice.  They have axed their own legs and hit the brains which once sustained growth in the country.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri expressed India's concerns over the safety and welfare of minorities.   Misri has reportedly said he also discussed some "regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties" in Bangladesh. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction.   Misri will not convince them because the sane voice in Bangladesh is not powerful enough to influence other politicians.  The challenge before each educated Bangladeshi and the world community is to free Bangaladesh from the rogue elements whose presence will destabilize the economic growth, education, peace and harmony in the world.  Because, turmoil in any part of the developing world is bound to spill over to the rich and the wealthy countries. Bangladesh needs a Soch converter for its own good.

Over decades,  Indian economy, social and cultural life suffered a lot due to Bangladeshi refugees who crossed over to India not due to atrocities only but with the objective of settling down in India. They have spilled over to all Indian states.  India has every reason to act when the entry of millions of refugees in the past decades has adversely affected its economy, employment scope, demography, culture and social life. Indian leaders had not taken strong steps to resettle Bangladeshi natives in Bangladesh after Bangladesh was formed in 1972; they were in an advantageous position after crushing the Pakistan army; they squandered away a golden opportunity.  When the original natives become refugees in one’s mother land before the very nose of the world community, it becomes the worst human tragedy.   In fact, it is the responsibility of the UNO and the world community to intervene and protect the Bangladeshi citizens from becoming strangers in their motherland.