‘Get a strong foothold in Bangladesh,’ Hasina tells Hindus

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the Hindus of Bangladesh to live here with a strong foothold.

At a programme on Sunday on the occasion of 'Janmashtami', she emphasised establishing a non-communal spirit.

"Bangladesh is your motherland, you were born here. You have rights. Why would anyone evict you?" Hasina asked.

"We expect you to live here with your rights maintaining a firm hold."

At the programme at the Ganabhaban, she said Bangladesh had become independent based on the non-communal spirit. "We must establish this spirit.”

According to her, equal rights of all cannot be ensured in the absence of democracy.

The prime minister said her government had ensured rights to practise one’s own religion by reviving secularism in the Constitution.

The scrapping of Section 14 (kha) of the Vested Property Act had dispelled the complexities over such properties of Hindus, she added.

Hasina also mentioned the amendment of the Inheritance Act and called for strengthening of the 'Hindu Kalyan Trust' fund.

Recalling hate attacks after the 2001 polls, she said, "The Jamaat-e-Islami and [its student affiliate] Shibir attack the Hindu community first."

She blamed the BNP-Jamaat alliance of pursuing politics of vengeance each time they came to power.

"They (the BNP-Jamaat coalition) only attack those who are in favour of Bangladesh's independence," Hasina alleged.

She referred to the killing of 17 people in Satkhira before the Jan 5 polls, attacks on the Jessore Hindu residences, and at Ramu's Buddhist locality.

The BNP-led alliance boycotted the polls and tried to thwart the election.

Hasina said Sri Krishna's doctrine of patronising the virtuous and suppressing the vile was more applicable in the month of August.

"We lost the Father of the Nation because of this evil racket," she said.