Biharis – or, as they call themselves, “stranded Pakistanis” – have come out on the streets and resorted to widespread violence over an issue that has spawned many theories. Whatever the source of 10 deaths in the so-called Bihari camps, such violence by so-called refugees is not acceptable.
But before going into the issue, we need to look back in history. According to Wikipedia, in pre-independence British India, there was an Urdu-speaking Muslim minority in the Hindu majority state of Bihar. There was extensive violence between three religious groups: Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims. In November 1946, there were riots in Bihar where 30,000 Muslims were killed.
In 1947, at the time of Partition, the Bihari Muslims, many of whom were fleeing the violence that took place during Partition, fled to East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
The Urdu-speaking in Bangladesh arrived in several waves. Immediately after the creation of Pakistan, there were no restrictions on movement across the Indo-Pakistan border for several years. Persons who remained in Pakistan (East or West) did so of their own free will.
In 1971, most Biharis sided with Pakistan and opposed the Bengali people’s agitation for independence from Pakistan, viewing the Bengali struggle as an illegitimate rebellion.
During the nine-month-long Bangladesh Liberation War, many were active as local collaborators of the Pakistan army and helped create groups like the Razakars, al-Badr, and al-Shams. These groups were responsible for conducting mass killing campaigns against Bengali nationalists, civilians, religious, and ethnic minorities.
The widespread opposition of the Bihari community to the Bangladesh Liberation War, support for the Pakistani army, and participation in pro-Pakistani militias led to considerable hostility from Bengalis.
The Biharis became stranded after the independence of Bangladesh and were relocated to refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Many have since appealed to the Pakistani government for the right to settle in Pakistan. Their petition has only been met with marginal support from the authorities, who have allowed only a small number of “stranded Pakistanis” move to Pakistan.
In 2003 the High Court ruled that 10 Biharis were entitled to citizenship and voting rights. In 2008, the High Court ruled that 150,000 Biharis, who were minors at the time of the war, could be given citizenship in Bangladesh and voting rights. This is also to be extended to those born into the so-called Bihari community since the war, giving them a path to citizenship rights in Bangladesh at last.
Those are on record. In the aftermath of the violence in Mirpur’s Kalshi area, Biharis from other areas gathered and blocked the important Kalshi-Mirpur DOHS road. Law enforcement personnel simply failed to quell the continuing agitation, much to the discomfort of the residents living in DOHS and nearby areas.
The first question is: If they are refugees in camps, how are they doing business in Bangladesh? The shops around the settlement are an example. Under international law, refugees cannot resort to such activities.
How many of them have taken advantage of the High Court order on availing citizenship?
I have written many times about the status of these Biharis, especially the crime that breeds from these selected areas in Mohammadpur and Mirpur, the political role they play in Bangladesh, and of course, the horrible state of health and hygiene there.
Their political stand has been very clear – anything right-wing and pro-Pakistani. They are very active in local politics, and many of them have been voting.
The Bihari community has now submitted a five-point demand to the government. That includes a probe into the killings and security of refugee camps.
To my mind, the first step the government must take is to find out if they are real refugees or only in name.
What is alarming is that even after decades, they have remained Pakistanis in heart and soul, which means they have no commitment to Bangladesh. More alarming is their emergence as a group.
They gathered at Kalshi from Mohammadpur and elsewhere. One can possibly foresee the birth of a party like MQM in Pakistan in this country. This must not be allowed.
Our politicians allow many things to serve their purpose, but this is a case they must ponder carefully. The MQM has been a serious problem for Pakistan, especially in its port city of Karachi.
The other fear is the social effect. Look at the Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar. I have covered the issue deeply. All our humanitarian efforts have ended in all that is bad for Bangladesh. They are committing crimes, and have married into Bengali families to become a majority in the district. They have been caught with Bangladeshi passports, and jailed for committing crimes abroad.
Bangladesh authorities should immediately put the Bihari population who do not wish to avail of Bangladeshi citizenship in clearly sectioned off areas and stop their free mixing with the general populace. They must stop hoisting Pakistani flags and behave properly as per refugee laws, as well as the laws of Bangladesh.
The government should act tough with the Bihari population as they betrayed Bengalis in 1971 by opposing the Liberation War and are now simply a headache that we do not need.
The camps cannot be there for eternity. Either they accept Bangladesh’s citizenship, or quit and move to any other destination if Pakistan refuses to take them.
I vividly remember how the local Biharis came out on the streets of Chittagong with weapons to slaughter Bengalis soon after the Pakistani army unleashed its genocide in Bangladesh in 1971. Simply unforgiveable.
