OPINION ON BANGLSDEDSH UPCOMING ELECTION 2024: Prothom Alo Daily

 

BANGLSDEDSH UPCOMING ELECTION 2024

FORUM IN OPEN BANGLADESH WITH IMPORTANT SPEAKERS

https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/capital/oy3m2o9vil November 30, 2023 

Bengali Translated by Social Media

সংখ্যালঘুবিরোধী অনেকেই মনোনয়ন পেয়েছেন: সুলতানা কামাল

Many anti-minority candidates have received nomination: Sultana Kamal

নিজস্ব প্রতিবেদক   ঢাকা   আপডেট: ৩০ নভেম্বর ২০২৩, ০৭: ২৬ 
Our own reporter    Dhaka   Updated: 30 November 2023, 07:26

    Human rights activist Sultana Kamal has claimed that many anti-minority and anti-Hindu candidates have been nominated in the upcoming election. "Many people have been nominated very clearly anti-minority, anti-Hindu, who are indulging in corruption and indulging in looting in various ways.”

    Sultana Kamal said this at an opinion exchange meeting titled 'Election Violence: Ways to Overcome'. Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee) organized the meeting at Sirdap in the capital on Thursday afternoon ahead of the national election. Sultana Kamal said that there is some kind of violence every day and it intensifies at special times like elections or pujas (Hindu festivals). "It's not just violence against minority communities. We're actually living in a violent society. Every person is a victim of violence today. But those who have less power, who can protest less, are tortured much more. Because the oppressor knows that if he commits violence here, he will get away with it. Minority abuse is more common because they get away with it.’

    Not just during elections, not during pujas, but during year’s 365 days and 24 hours security demanded by Sultana Kamal.

    Shahriar Kabir, president of the 1971 Killer Dalal (Supporter) Nirmul (Elimination) Committee, spoke before Sultana Kamal at the meeting. "There is a section of people saying that there was communalism during the BNP regime, and it is also there during the Awami League regime. So, something has to be done to exclude this group. So, where's the alternative? Now we have a better of the evils, Awami League.”

    In response to Shahriar Kabir's statement, Sultana Kamal said, "I am not getting any benefit from the good of evil. I can't take away the fear from me that there's a guardian in the state who doesn't have to worry about me. If we have to be satisfied with the good of evil, it is very unfortunate for us.”

    At the meeting, Jatiya (National) Press Club General Secretary Shyamal Dutta alleged that at least 10 MPs of Awami League have been nominated, who are involved in the persecution of minorities. In the meeting, Shyamal Dutta said, "Awami League won’t ever be able to remove the State Religion.”

    Shyamal Dutta said, "We (minorities) do not even have to vote here now. There is no importance for us. 8.9 percent don't even need to vote. So. until this culture changes, it's not going to be solved.”

    The meeting was presided over by the President of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (Puja Celebration Committee) J. L. Bhowmick, while the meeting was conducted by General Secretary of Puja Udjapan Parishad Mr. Chandranath Poddar.

    Also spoke on this occasion were President of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad (Women’s Association) Fauzia Moslem, Retired Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury (Manik), Joint Secretary of Prothom Alo and poet Sohrab Hasan, President of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council Nimchandra Bhowmik, President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Sohel Haider Chowdhury and Member Secretary of Sampriti Bangladesh Professor Mamun Al Mahatab.