CAA ‘not useful’ to sort out issues of Bangladesh’s Hindus: Neighborhood chief | World News

DHAKA: India’s Citizenship (Modification) Act (CAA) is “not useful” in confronting challenges confronted by Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, a distinguished Hindu chief right here has mentioned at a time when the nation’s Islamic fundamentalists are fast to choose up on non secular controversies throughout the border to foment bother.

Monindra Kumar Nath, vp of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad that oversees non secular occasions within the nation’s 64 districts, acknowledged the Sheikh Hasina authorities is “extra pleasant” to minorities and proactive in stopping assaults on temples and the grabbing of land from minorities.

“We don’t welcome the CAA. We aren't in favour of this legislation as such laws just isn't useful,” he mentioned, talking in Bengali with a gaggle of Indian journalists at Dhakeshwari temple.

Nath, who can be joint common secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, mentioned individuals are pressured to go away their motherland solely once they face excessive torture or assaults. “Bangladesh is our birthplace and we should keep right here...We would favor to remain right here and settle our issues,” he mentioned.

India’s Parliament handed CAA, which seeks to offer citizenship to persecuted members of non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, in late 2019. Nevertheless, guidelines for the legislation are but to be framed.

Nath mentioned the issues of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority may be higher addressed if the federal government in Dhaka takes “correct steps”, akin to enacting minority-friendly legal guidelines and administrative steps such because the creation of a minorities’ fee and a ministry for minorities.

“The illustration of Hindus within the paperwork and legislation enforcement organisations has elevated however we'd like a minority affairs ministry,” he mentioned.

Bangladesh at present has a non secular affairs ministry answerable for issues associated to minority communities, together with the maintenance of temples, church buildings and pagodas.

Since final Friday, Bangladesh has witnessed protests, primarily organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami, over controversial remarks towards Prophet Mohammed by two BJP spokespersons who had been subsequently faraway from the submit. The Bangladesh authorities mounted an enormous behind-the-scenes effort to tamp down such protests and data minister Hasan Mahmud described the matter as an “exterior situation” whereas welcoming motion taken in India towards the BJP spokespersons.

Ghulam Maula Naqshbandi, head of the non secular affairs sub-committee of the ruling Awami League, mentioned the Bangladesh authorities acted “virtually immediately” after sectarian assaults on Durga Puja pandals final October, whereas the BJP eliminated the 2 spokespersons virtually 10 days after their controversial remarks and following a protest from West Asian international locations.

“Each time one thing occurs to minorities in India, there's potential for a response right here. However our authorities stops any such mischief with an iron hand,” Naqshbandi mentioned.

Bangladesh’s Hindus account for a bit greater than 10% of the inhabitants of round 170 million, and Nath acknowledged the variety of Durga pujas organised throughout the nation had doubled to greater than 30,000 over the previous decade.

“There are issues sometimes however we're decided to remain right here. We solely need justice and equal standing,” mentioned Nath, referring to the sectarian assaults on puja pandals in Comilla, Chittagong and Rangpur final 12 months.