The Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad took out a rally on Saturday, demanding that the Awami League makes good on its polls pledges to protect the rights of the minorities.
The government is failing to prevent communal, speakers at the rally, said, adding the government’s failure to implement the election pledges has led to the existing communal violence.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikkya Parishad organized the rally in front of the Central Shaheed Minar.
Speakers said that if their demands are not met, they will call a mass hunger strike from 6am to 6pm on October 22.
Their demands include the implementation of Awami League’s polls manifesto which promised laws to protect minorities, eliminate discrimination and the Hindu endowed property (Debottor) law. It also pledged a national minority commission, a Transfer of Entrusted Property Act, proper implementation of the Hill Tracts Peace Accord and the hill land commission law, and the formation of a separate land commission for the ethnic minorities in the hills and plain land.
“The government is in indecision regarding the minorities. They fear that if they move forward to become active in defense of the minorities, the fundamentalists will be disappointed,” said Ushatan Talukder, a former lawmaker and president of the Oikkya Parishad.
“The prime minister must decide now which side to take,” he said, adding that the head of the government was being influenced otherwise by a vested quarter.
Nim Chandra Bhowmik, another president of the association, claimed that the force that stands for the Liberation War which is being led by Sheikh Hasina has its weakness.
Nirmal Rozarion, another president alleged that no government stood by its pledge to the minorities.
Speakers alleged that attacks on religious minorities was now being carried out in front of administration and law enforcers.
