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Bangla Hindus protest in US over persecution

By The Assam Tribune

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 - Bangladeshi Hindus have held a peaceful protest in front of the White House to urge outgoing US President Barack Obama to help protect and bring an end to the �persecution� of religious minorities in the Muslim-majority country.

�We believe you are a person of great sensitivity and resolve, and would find the situation in Bangladesh with respect to the minority communities deplorable. We would like to request you, if it is possible, to convey our anxiety regarding Bangladesh to the next administration,� said a memorandum submitted by protesters to Obama yesterday.

Organised by Hindu Buddhist Christians Unity Council, USA dozens of protesters conveyed their deep concern regarding the allegedly passive role of the Bangladeshi government in coming to the rescue of the affected or in taking legal measures against the perpetrators.

�The destruction of Hindu households and temples, the usurping of Hindu lands and occasional killing and rape have become a norm in the present day Bangladesh. In fact, in recent weeks, the news of two more premeditated attacks were documented during which the party in power was complicit, and no actions were taken by the authorities to assist or support the victims and their families,� the memorandum said.

Last month, the same organisation had held a similar demonstration in front of the Trump Towers in New York.

�President-elect Donald Trump had attended a charity event before the election to raise funds for the terrorism. Bangladeshi Hindus who are victims of terrorism. I am sure, he would take up our cause too,� said protester Sitangshu Guha.

Protecting Bangladesh from falling into the lap of ISIS is the �most pressing priorities�, said Jay Kansara of the Hindu American Foundation.

�Because if Bengal falls to extremism, then there would be no recourse to that,� he said in his brief address to the protesters, which included women and children.

The memorandum alleged that the present Bangladeshi government occasionally spouted words of secularism, but in reality was following a path of ethnic cleansing that was instituted by Pakistan almost seventy years ago. � PTI

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