Amid persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, a new party has taken birth in the country to represent the neglected group. Here’s all you need to know about BMJP
As Hindus and other
minorities in Bangladesh continue to face persecution at the hands of radical actors operating in the country, a party representing the section was formed ahead of the
polls in February. The Bangladesh Minority Janta Party (BMJP) registered itself for the polls in April this year.
According to The Times of India, the party is preparing to contest in 91 of 300 seats of the Jatiya Parishad (national parliament) and hopes to win 40 to 45 seats. While speaking to TOI on the phone, the party President, Sukriti Kumar Mandal, said that his party is focusing on constituencies where there is a significant Hindu vote-bank.
“We have zeroed in on constituencies where the minority, especially the Hindu vote-bank, ranges from 20 per cent to 60 per cent,” he told the Indian news outlet. As he scrambled to file a nomination before the Monday deadline, Mandal emphasised that Hindus in Bangladesh need to feel safe so that they can come out and vote.
He also made it clear that his party would be open to having an alliance with any mainstream party, be it
Tarique Rahman’s BNP or even Jamaat-e-Islami. “With an alliance with these parties, minorities can come out of their houses without fearing retaliation. Awami League is off the radar, and BMJP is the only voice of persecuted Hindus,” Mandal told TOI.
How the party looks at India
Mandal said that the party candidates would be finalised in a day or two. “By Saturday, all nominations would be filed,” he said. He also maintained that India should change its stance on Dhaka and support only the Hindu cause, rather than backing the
Awami League, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“If India shifts from its pro-Awami League stand, mainstream Bangladesh parties will sit up and take note. India must know that BMJP is the sole voice of minorities,” Mandal told TOI. He also noted that a change in stance could lead to a change in Bangladesh’s mindset about New Delhi.
He went on to claim that the Awami League only used India to gain power. TOI also obtained the five-point agenda from the party, which includes:
1 Working towards a secular Bangladesh
2 Establishing a federal system by carving out five provinces
3 Establishing fundamental and constitutional rights of each state
4. BMJP also proposed changes in textbooks with a secular and scientific approach
5. Ensuring fair rights for minorities
Mandal told TOI that the party will focus on building a social system free of discrimination. “The Enemy Property Act, created during
, is now being used to target Hindus. Lakhs of acres of Hindu land have been lost, and countless families have been ruined after property grabbing, personal vendetta, forced conversion and arson at places of worship, which are daily incidents,” he said.
He also mentioned that 2.5 crore Hindus in Bangladesh are there to stay in the country, emphasising that remaining in the mainstream can be the solution. “There is a sizable Hindu population in a cross-section of constituencies. Earlier, they were supporters of the Awami League. To come out and vote for us, either of the mainstream parties must declare a tie-up,” he said.
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