Over the past few years, the Hindus and other religious and ethnic minorities along with progressive Muslims are being targeted by Islamist extremists in Bangladesh. In addition to that, the cadres of the ruling party and the parties of the opposition are usurping Hindu property. There are also cases of murder, rape and forceful religious conversion. There is a steady exodus out of Bangladesh that is exhibited by the relative fall of the Hindu and other minority population.

Within Bangladesh, Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikyo Parishad (Unity Council) (BHBCOP) consistently provides a voice against the human rights violation of the religious minorities. It is with deep consternation that we observe that recently the General Secretary of BHBCOP Rana Dasgupta and the celebrity actor Pijush Bandopadhayay are being harassed because of media reports that they asked for international help in salvaging the minorities. The media have reported that they had specifically asked help from India. Both Rana Dasgupta and Pijush Bandopadhayay have denied the reports that they had asked for Indian help. However, there is now agitation in the country to file charges against them for sedition.

We feel this is a consolidated effort to discredit BHBCOP and muzzle even the protest raised by the organization. Under the above circumstances, the fundamental groups and individuals are rallying against BHBCOP and its officials. We are worried that the administration may also be willing to round up our leaders in Bangladesh. We urge all quarters to refrain from such act and if anything happens like that we urge everyone to exercise their rights to protest and protest vehemently.

Thank you very much.