Syed Mohammad Ullah, most respected community leader & an Editor told on Sunday, 18th May 2008 in a conference in Jackson Heights, NY, that, Vested (Enemy) Property Act is a shame for our nation and expressed apology that the law still exist in Bangladesh and as a member of the majority community he could not do much to repeal it. He termed enemy property act as a tragic event and he don't have the language to condemn it.
Special guest Syed Mohamad Ullah was talking in a RTC (Round Table Conference) held last Sunday where Chief Guest Ms. Rosaline Costa and Ahmedia leader Zinda M. Bazua also spoke. Syed Mohamad Ullah told the audience that, you can talk, appeal about the law but you must fight back to repeal it and to solve all the problems of religious minorities. He told, Bangladesh has been independent but nothing changed but the name. He also told that, it is barbaric to deprive a section of people from their fundamental rights. Syed Mohamad Ullah told, we made minorities our enemy and snatch their rights. Minorities are nowhere in Bangladesh, a minority can't be president, army chief, chief justice, high level secretary or ambassador etc.
House was pin drop silent and audience applauded him vigorously when he said, to restore the rights of religious minorities let us start a peaceful movement, let's do 'Satyagrah' for a whole day; let's go to Washington and sit down in front of state department. He suggested taking legal advice if a case can be started in any international court against the enemy property law. He said this law is against UN charter, HR norms and against the constitution of Bangladesh. In this respect Syed Mohamad Ullah urge the religious minority community to demand equal rights in every sphere of life. He suggested that, election is coming; you need to demand parliamentary seats according to population. He told that he does not support separate electorate because it was not proved effective but there need to be some provision that minority representation is in the parliament. He advised to do a huge gathering in Bangladesh. Syed Mohamad Ullah urged to call a 'Hunger Strike' throughout Bangladesh for the repeal of this black law. He appealed to be united.
The RTC was organized by Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, USA and was presided over by Nabendu Dutta while Ratan Barua, Sushil Saha, Dr. Provat Das, Anukul Adhikari, Apu Pal, Subrata Biswas, Chandan SenGupta, Rabindranath Sarker, Muktipada Shil, Sarbidhya, Pradip Sen, Pranab Chakraborty, Ratan Saha, Subodh Sarker and others joined the discussion. In the beginning Sitangshu Guha gave a brief about the law and its devastating effects on religious minorities.
In the meeting Rosaline Costa told point blank that if Oikyo Parishad, USA is not unified nothing can be achieved. She advised that, you become unified first and then organize minorities in Bangladesh. Giving plenty of examples she urged that minorities needs to fight back. Note that Ms. Costa came to USA recently and talked in a Washington briefing where she depict the picture about minority persecution. Sitangshu Guha also spoke there from BHBCUC, USA. Ms. Costa also talked in Ahmedia forum in NY.
Several documents on minority persecution, a booklet on enemy property and other paper clippings were distributed in the meeting. BHBCUC, USA decided to hold a greater gathering on this issue. Leaders urged to visit its website www.bhbcuc-usa.org |