Indian Muslims Strongly Condemn Attacks On Hindus in Bangladesh
By Indian Muslims for
Secular Democracy
August 12,
2024
In His First Address
to The Nation, The Noble Laureate Mohammad Yunus, Now The Chief Advisor To The
New Interim Government, Has Warned Those Who Spread The Poison Of Anarchy Would
Face The Full Power Of Law Enforcement Agencies, Along With The Victorious
Students And The People, Who Will Make Them Fail. “As The First Duty Of The Government, We Will
Suppress These Conspirators With A Heavy Hand,” He Has Promised. The Interim
Government Must Now Walk The Talk.
------
Indian
Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) strongly condemns the attack on the life
and property of Bangladeshi Hindus. Communalism is a sub-continental malaise
and must be fought across borders. We call upon Muslim organisations and
individuals in India to strongly condemn the targeting of minorities in our
neighbouring country.
Reports in
the last few days in the The Daily Star, The Daily Tribune and others published
from Dacca, record that at least 142 people were killed in attacks and clashes
around the country, with hundreds injured, and Hindu houses and businesses were
looted and torched in at least 27 districts, on the day the students' movement
declared "independence" from the Awami League's authoritarian regime.
In the
anarchic situation that prevails in the country, fearing for their lives, a
large number of Hindus living close to the border have been attempting to cross
over to India leaving behind their homes, businesses and motherland.
The once
iconic cultural hub of Rahul Ananda has been vandalised, 3,000 rare musical
instruments burnt down. The attack on temples, Hindu homes and businesses the
targeting of Rahul Ananda’s secular musical space is clear indication that some
fanatical Islamist groups – there is no dearth of them in Bangladesh -- are
pursuing their own intolerant agenda.
In the
midst of the continuing mayhem, there are reassuring reports that student
leaders have directed their supporters to guard the places of worship of fellow
countrymen from the Hindu and Christian communities. Several video clips are
circulating in the social media showing students and civilians including
madrasa students, setting up committees to protect temples, churches or houses
of minorities.
The
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI), the largest Islamist party in the country,
has condemned the attacks on Hindus, saying there is no question of majority or
minority and that all citizens have equal rights.
IMSD applauds
all those organisations and individuals in Bangladesh who are speaking out
against the lynch mobs, arsonists looters and fanatics, in particular those who
have thrown civilian security rings around their fellow countrymen from the
minority communities. We welcome the statement now even as we note that their
own questionable role in the past speaks otherwise.
But the
main burden of responsibility lies with the interim government to restore the
rule of law, ensure peace, comfort the Hindu victims of the wanton violence,
reassure them that they will be fully compensated for the destruction of their
temples, homes and businesses and the perpetrators of violence will be brought
to justice.
In his
first address to the nation, the Noble laureate Mohammad Yunus, now the chief
advisor to the new interim government, has warned those who spread the poison
of anarchy would face the full power of law enforcement agencies, along with
the victorious students and the people, who will make them fail. “As the first duty of the government, we will
suppress these conspirators with a heavy hand,” he has promised. The interim
government must now walk the talk.
Signatories:
1. A.
J. Jawad, Advocate, Chennai
2. Aftab
Khan, Journalist, Nasik
3. Akbar
Shaikh, IMSD, Solapur
4. Ahmad
Rashid Sherwani, Educationist, Hyderabad
5. Amir
Rizvi, IMSD, Designer, Mumbai
6. Anand
Patwardhan, Documentary films maker, Mumbai
7. Anjum
Rajabali, Film Writer, Mumbai
8. Anwar
Hussain, Corporate Executive, Mumbai
9. Arif
Kapadia, IMSD, Business, Activist, Mumbra, Thane
10.
Arshad Alam, IMSD, Columnist, New Age Islam, Delhi
11.
Ashhar Khan, Jaunpur
12.
Askari Zaidi, IMSD, Senior Journalist, Delhi
13.
Bilal Khan, IMSD, Activist, Mumbai
14.
Prof. Dipak Malik, Varanasi
15.
Feroze Mithiborwala, IMSD, Co-convener, Bharat Bachao Andolan, Mumbai
16.
Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, Sufi Mystic Indo-Islamic Scholar & Author, Delhi
17.
Hasan Ibrahim Pasha, Fiction writer, Allahabad
18.
Hasina Khan, Bebaak Collective, Mumbai
19. Irfan
Engineer, IMSD Co-convener, CSSS, Mumbai
20. Javed
Akhtar, former MP, poet, lyricist, Mumbai
21.
Javed Anand, IMSD Convener, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai
22.
Javed Siddiqi, IMSD, writer, author, Mumbai
23.
Kasim Sait, Businessman, Philanthropist, Chennai
24.
Khadijah Farouqui, IMSD, Activist, Delhi
25.
Mansoor Sardar, IMSD, Bhiwandi
26.
Masooma Ranalvi, IMSD, We Speak Out, Delhi
27.
Mohammed Imran, PIO, USA
28.
Muniza Khan, IMSD, CJP, Varanasi
29.
Najid Hussain, PIO, USA
30. Nasreen
Contractor, Co-convenor, IMSD, Mumbai
31. Nasreen
Fazelbhoy, IMSD, Mumbai
32.
Neelima Sharma, Theatre, Social activist, Delhi
33.
Qaisar Sultana, Home maker, Allahabad
34.
(Prof.) Qamarjahan, Lucknow
35.
Qutub Jahan, IMSD, NEEDA, Mumbai
36.
(Dr) Ram Puniyani, IMSD, Author, Activist, Mumbai
37.
Rashida Tapadar, Academic, Activist, Nagaland
38.
Riyaz Shaikh, Mumbai
39.
Sabah Khan, Parcham, Mumbai.
40. Salim
Saboowala, Social activist, Mumbai
41.
Shabana Azmi, Actor, Former MP, Mumbai
42.
Shafaat Khan, IMSD, Writer, Mumbai
43.
Shalini Dhawan, Designer, Mumbai
44.
Shama Bano, Social activist Varanasi
45. Shamsul
Islam, Author, Delhi
46.
Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, IMSD, TV Commentator, Delhi
47.
Sultan Shahin, Editor-in chief and publisher, New Age Islam, Delhi
48.
Teesta Setalvad, IMSD, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai
49. Vibhuti Narain Rai, IPS (retired), author,
commentator, Noida
50.
Yash Paranjpe, Activist, Mumbai
51.
Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Sayeed, Neurologist, Chennai
52.
Zeenat Shaukat Ali, IMSD, Wisdom Foundation, Mumbai
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