Bangladesh: Christian student killed for less than a dollar

Source: AsiaNews.it

A gang of thugs attacked Rema Amit, 26, and a friend who was in his company. The spoils of harvest is a phone and 70 cents. Police have already identified and arrested the members of the group.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - An armed gang has killed one tribal Christian student and injured a friend, to steal a phone and a tally of less than one euro. The two young men were on their way home from festivities for the 100th anniversary of St Joseph's Catholic Church, located in the district of Netrokona - Dhaka Division - about 173 km from the capital. The police confirmed the identification and arrest of all members of the group involved in the murder.

The incident occurred on 15 February in Mohammadupur, division of Dhaka. Rema Amit, 26, a student of the Institute of Science and Technology at Dhanmondi in the company of his friend Sohag, had just got off the bus, returning from the festivities for the Jubilee of St. Joseph Church. On the wayhome, in East Raja Bazar (Dhaka), the two friends were attacked by a group armed with knives and pistols, who ordered them to hand over money and valuables.

At the young men’s refusal, the assailants struck them with a large knife and then stole their money which amounted to a total of 70 taka (about 70 euro cents) and their mobile phones. Sohag, the survivor, said that "the group followed us, in a private car" and attacked them "near Amit’s home."

A police patrol on the spot immediately intervened arresting one of the assailants, Sujan (aka Monir) 24, who was in possession of a large knife. A few hours later the agents stopped the three other members of the gang, Habib, 24, Ershad alias Munna, 26, and Monirul, 25, seizing a pistol and ammunition.

Indigenous leaders want primary edn in mother tongues

source: The daily star News

Indigenous leaders have called on the government to start primary-level education in their mother languages and demanded an announcement by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this connection on International Mother Language Day.

The leaders placed the demand while they were being interviewed by this correspondent yesterday regarding their expectations on the occasion of this year's Ekushey February.

Ujjal Smrity Chakma, coordinator of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) Khagrachhari, said members of 13 minority indigenous communities, who speak in 10 separate mother tongues, had been demanding for long to start primary education in their own languages to ensure their rights.

“I call on the prime minister to declare her government's roadmap to start mother tongue-based primary education and I expect an announcement by her on February 21," he said.

Indigenous leader and former Khagrachhari Hill District Council chairman Monindra Lal Tripura said as per Article-3 of the Parbatya Zila Parishad Act 1989, the government should start primary education for indigenous children in their mother languages.

“We expect the official declaration in this connection on February 21."

Another indigenous leader Shaktipado Tripura said the government signed a peace accord with Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) on December 2, 1997. As per Article-33 of the deal, the government should ensure primary education of all indigenous children in their mother languages.

Sudha Sindu Khisha also said as per the peace accord, it was mandatory that the government ensures at least primary-level education for indigenous children in their mother tongues.

"Actually, we included the section aimed at ensuring quality education, increasing children's ability to learn, having a clear conception of their own languages and tradition, stoppage of child repression, child marriage as well as child labour, decreasing dropouts and increasing attendance in schools," he added.

Another PCJSS leader Sudhakar Tripura said if indigenous children learn their own cultural tradition through their mother tongues, schooling could have become more enjoyable. They might come to schools regularly.

Chakma language is being used at Chakma villages, Kokborok language at Tripura villages while Marma language at Marma villages, he added.

JSS leader Jatindra Lal Chakma said the government needs to mother tongue-based primary education in CHT area.

"It will encourage our indigenous children to go to schools and learn practically."

He expects that the incumbent premier will deliver her commitment to begin primary education in indigenous languages.

Minority protest in Bangladesh: Join the Grand Rally

Bangladesh "Jatio Hindu Jubo Mohajut" is organizing a Manob Bondhan" on 19th February, 2010 at 10 am to protest continuing atrocities again countries Hindu minorities.
The organization is inviting all conscious people to participate in the "Manob Bondhan"
at MUKTANGGON (GPO), Dhaka-1000 on 10 AM BDT, Friday, February 19th, 2010.
Gang rape, abduction of minority women and girls has become common in Bangladesh. That couple with looting and land grabbing of minority property threatens the very existence of the society.
If you like to JOIN the RALLY, Please visit the url below and RSVP.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=324977617528

HINDU TEMPLE ATTACKED, IDOLS DESTROYED IN B'DESH: OFFICIAL

Source: HRCBM-Bangladesh

Miscreants in Bangladesh's Narayanganj district vandalised an ancient Hindu temple, with assailants destroying six idols, a top official said on Saturday.

A gang of 30-35 men attacked the Sonargaon temple and broke six idols, said Md Yunus Ali, the local police chief.

He said the incident took place while the devotees were holding a religious function at the Sree Sree Rakshakali Temple at Ashrafdi village.

The miscreants vandalised the temple and four houses, injuring at least five people, in Narayanganj's Sonargaon subdivision yesterday, the private bdnews24 news agency said.

A case is underway, the police official was quoted as saying in the report. The Sonargaon police chief said religious programme began on February 2.The gang attacked the temple following an altercation between a devotee and three youths of the village.

Muslims demolished a Hindu Temple at Sonargoan

February 6, 2010 Leave a comment Go to comments

By William Gomes

On 5th February a large group of 35 Muslims thugs fully demolished the 6 deities and attacked on neighboring Hindu houses.

They demolished the deities and injured several while the Hindu devotes were busy in prayer they attacked on the Shri Shri Kali Roksha Mondir at Asrafdi village in Sonargoan.

The Muslim thugs demolished the Shivla Devi, Gonga and other four deities said Niti a Hindu devote who was injured in attack.
As the Hindus informed the local police , police came lately so the Muslim thugs were able to run away , the officer in charge denied the allegation but admit that he knows about the incident.
He added that we will investigate and take proper initiative.

Non-tribal students get admitted at tribal quota in Comilla University

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

Comilla University posted the result of the first year admission test of the academic session 2009-2010 at its website (http://www.cou.ac.bd). The website shows that some non-tribal students get admitted under tribal quota.

According to the merit list of science unit, Limon Kanti Dey (Roll no. 30724) got chance to admit under tribal quota. Similarly, according to the merit list of business unit, Mohammad Abdullah Al (Roll no. 42050) and Md Minhajul Abedin (Roll no. 45286) get admitted under tribal quota. However, actual tribal were kept in the waiting list of this business unit.

Freedom fighter quota and tribal quota in the arts & humanities and social science unit is not clear as merit list of these two quotas were shown in one list. Total 12 students got chance to admit at these two quotas. Of them, 5 students are tribal and 7 students are non-tribal.

Please visit to http://www.cou.ac.bd for details and click to ‘Merit & Waiting List for Quota’.

Rakhain people demand constitutional recognition

Source: Daily New Nation, 2 February 2010
Submitted by: Kapaeeng Foundation

The participants of an impact study seminar in Barisal on Rakhain community stressed on the constitutional recognition of them with separate socio-cultural-ethnic identity for their survival in Barisal coastal region.

The daylong seminar was organized on Sunday by Barisal regional office of Caritas Bangladesh at its auditorium under the three-year long "Integ-rated Community Development Project (ICDP)" Rishi-Khulna and Rakhanine-Barisal with funding support from Scours Catholic-Caritas France and the European Commission since February 2007.

The study looked into the socio-economic conditions, access to natural resources and government organisations, land rights, food security and Medicare facilities of the Rakhain people, said the organisers. They analysed the crises of the indigenous people in the context of colonial history, impact of globalisation, constitutional recognition of Rakhine community, ignorance and insensibility of the leaders of the community and mainstream, identity crisis, lack of endeavour to reserve the age-old customs and traditions, culture and language and conflict with dominating cultures.

The people of the Rakhine indigenous groups are being undermined gradually as the tribe of the region fighting against dire poverty, bad communication, inner-tribal conflict, lack of education, healthcare, housing, sanitation facilities, harassment and deprivation by greedy land grabbers and administration.

The programme was presided over by Francis Bepary, Caritas Barisal regional director and Khalid Madmud Zaki, personal secretary of Barisal City Corporation Mayor, as the chief guest, Father Nicolas Baroi, Catholic priest, Abdul Bark Molla, Kalapara Latachapli union parishad chairman, Mong Tenthan, Kalapara Rakhain community leader, Anisur Rahman Swapan, New Age Correspondent and Barisal Metropolitan Journalist Union, as special guests, Mezbahuddin Mannu, daily Janakantha Correspondent Kalapara, Khein Maung Hla, Rakhain community leader Taltali addressed the programme.

Myenthen Promila, ICDP R and R project in charge presented the audio-visual presentation for the participants representing Rakhain community, local government, mass media, government and non-government organizations.

Except some of the non-governmental organisations, the indigenous people have little representation either in government, local government or in semi-government organisations, the discussants said.

They also criticised the conventional trend of showcasing indigenous culture in national programmes.

The Rakhain people should be given due recognition rather than making them tourist attractive showpieces, they said. Immediate formation of land commission to stop intrusion into the Rakhine adivasis ancestral lands and harassment through filing of false cases by unscrupulous people need urgently, they called.

Abduction and conversion of minority girl in Sirajganj: HRCBM-Sirganj's protest

Source: HRCBM-Bangladeesh

The organizing secretary of HRCBM-Sirajganj District Unit and a correspondent of the daily star informs HRCBM-Bangladesh that an abduction and conversion incident of 15 years old minority going girl took place at Tamai Paschimpar, under PS Belkuchi of District.

It is informed that on 19th January 2010 the victim ( Rupa Rani Haldar) was kidnapped by perpetrators from the door step of her residence. The witnesses informed that for illegal purposes the victim girl was kidnapped and a marriage was solemnized between the girls and accused number 1- Shah Alam S/o Ashraf Ali of Tamai Paschimpar, under PS Belkuchi, District Sirajganj to show that the kidnapping was legal.

Ratan Chandra Haldar (complainant and father of the victim girl) produced a birth certificate where the date of birth of the victim was 1.12.1994 and he lodged F.I.R. at Belkuchi Police station being case No. 09 dated 21.07.2010 under section 7/30 ( Abduction with malafide intention) of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain, 2003 against the perpetrators.

Police arrested Shah Alam today 1 February 2010. As per birth certificate the date of birth of victim girl is 1st December 1994. And as per birth record the age of the girl on 21 .1.2010 is about 15 years 1 month 20 days.

RALLY, MEMO TO District Administration of Sirajganj

The Daily Star ( 1 February 2010 ) reports : A rally was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here yesterday to press the demand for rescue of an abducted schoolgirl and arrest of the culprits.

Several hundred people, including teachers, lawyers, politicians, journalists and socio-cultural activists, joined the rally organised by HUMAN RIGHTS CONGRESS FOR BANGLADESH MINORITIES (HRCBM) SIRAJGANJ UNIT.

They later submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner Md. Humayun Kabir demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the persons involved in kidnapping the schoolgirl.

Speakers at the rally blamed the police for their failure to arrest the abductors even after 12 days of abduction of the girl. They threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme from Wednesday if the schoolgirl was not rescued within the next 24 hours.

A gang of criminals, led by Shah Alam, 22, son of Ashraf Ali of Tamai Pashchimpara village in Belkuchi upazila, picked up the clash nine student of Tamai Girls High School from their house at the same village on January 19.

Victim's father lodged a case against Shah Alam with Belkuchi Police Station on January 21.