22 – 23 JANUARY 2005 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIL SOCIETY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND MINORITIES IN BANGLADESH

International Conference On Civil Society, Human Rights And Minorities In Bangladesh organised in association with Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC, International Chapters) at Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan, Kolkata was inaugurated by Prof Sibnarayan Ray, the leading thinker in Bengal, at 10-30 am, 22 January 2005. The background of the conference was presented by Mohit Ray of CAAMB stating the apathy in India and West Bengal about the minority problems in Bangladesh. Eminent historian Prof Amalendu Dey (Ex- President Asiatic Society), chaired the first session. It was addressed by Ushatan Talukdar, Secretary, Political Affairs, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti highlighting the struggle of Chakma people in Bangladesh. Sitangshu Guha, International Co-ordinator, BHBCUC, NewYork presented the international efforts on the issue. Rebel Poet in exile Ms Taslima Nasreen recited three of her poems. Dr. Nim Chandra Bhowmik, General Secy, BHBCUC, Dhaka, in his detailed speech spoke about failure of democratic system in Bangladesh and appealed to India to help Bangladesh in this regard. Prof Amalendu Dey then spoke on the continued persecution on the minorities in Bangladesh. Eminent educationist Prof Santosh Bhattacharya and Prof Sibnarayan Roy chaired other two sessions. Both of them expressed their concerns on Bangladesh. Sanjib Drong, Secretary Bangladesh Adibasi Forum, Novelist Salam Azad, Pranjalankar Bhikku of Peace Campaign Group, Chittagong Hills and Rana Dasgupta of BHBCUC, Chittagong spoke.

Second session was chaired by Prof Saradindu Mukherjee of Delhi University. Rosaline Costa of Hotline Bangladesh and Rabindra Ghosh, President, Human Rights Congress of Bangladesh Minorities, Dhaka spoke about atrocities on minorities. In a special session BHUBUC representative from England, USA, France and Canada spoke on the issue. In the evening audio-visual presentation on the atrocities on minorities were presented by Peace Campaign group and HRCBM. The programme ended at 6-45 pm. The conference started at 1 pm on 23 January. Bimal Pramanik, Director, Centre for Research in Indo Bangla Relations, presented his detailed research on demographic change in West Bengal due to muslim infiltration from Bangladesh. Dr. Easha Dey spoke about Bangladesh government’s influence on intellectuals in West Bengal which is harming the cause of minorities in Bangladesh. French journalist Francois Gauttier spoke about passivity of Indian majority to fight against Islamic Fundamentalism. Prof Tathagatao Roy appealed to spread information on atrocities in Bangladesh to raise the consciousness here. Shri Bibhuti bhusan Nandy, administrator, spoke about the apathy of Indian press on this issue. Dr. Smriti Kumar Sarkar of Kalyani University spoke about the impact of economic crisis in Bangladesh and its impact on Indian society. Poet Kamalesh Sen of CAAMB paid respect to the Bangladeshi intellectuals for their support to the minorities. Mohit Ray of CAAMB presented the vote of thanks. Achinta Gupta facilitated the whole conference. Off-stage support was provided by CAAMB members Shankar Sengupta, Ahin Das, Chayan Roy, Sujit Chowdhury, Pankaj, Ritwik, Biplab Sinha, Ashok Ghosh, Praksh Das and others

At the end a video of the play Tamasa of a Avant Garde Theatre of Chitagong was shown. HRCBM presented a video of Banskhali massacre in Chitagong. Conference ended at 8 pm.