145 Bangladeshi Citizens Appeal to the People of India

145 Bangladeshi citizens have issued a statement addressed to the people of India. Titled “Our Appeal to the People of India,” the statement was sent to the media on Friday, December 6.

The statement reads:
“We are at a critical juncture where the diplomatic relationship between India and Bangladesh is in a deplorable state. The constant provocations by certain radical communal forces in India aim to damage the friendly ties between the people of these two nations. We do not equate the government of India with its people. We understand that the people of India are also fighting against Hindutva forces and communalism.

“We, too, have struggled for years against the fascist Awami League regime and ultimately brought about its downfall. During the blood-soaked struggles of July-August, you stood in solidarity with us and supported our cause. Our democratic movement is also yours, just as we have long expressed solidarity with your struggles.”

The signatories further stated:
“Communalism is a major problem in the Indian subcontinent. It divides people, creating rifts based on religion. In our region, every ruling power has utilized communalism as a tool to obscure pressing issues like education, healthcare, unemployment, skyrocketing prices of daily necessities, violence against women, and numerous other societal problems. This strategy aims to secure votes from both majority and minority communities. Particularly during political upheavals, attacks on minority communities become frequent.

“During the tenure of the previous Awami League government, incidents of attacks on Hindu homes, land grabbing, temple vandalism, and casualties occurred throughout Bangladesh. After the August 5 mass uprising, Hindu homes, businesses, and temples were also attacked across the country. However, inspired by the uprising, many political groups came forward to protect Hindu homes and temples, setting new examples of harmony. Additionally, when incidents like trampling the Indian national flag occurred, democracy-loving individuals in this country protested. Yet, many Indian media outlets have failed to present the true picture of Bangladesh and continue to do so.”

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The statement highlighted:
“An Indian media outlet portrayed an accident on the Dhaka-Agartala-Dhaka route as a planned attack. Within hours of this misinformation, Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commission in Agartala was attacked, the national flag was torn down, and desecrated. Although the Indian government expressed regret for the attack, it has not taken effective steps to stop such false propaganda. We demand that the true events in Bangladesh be presented accurately. Such propaganda benefits only communal forces and the ruling elite in any country.

“Recently, the Indian government’s reaction following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has been surprising. While we support his right to a fair trial, which everyone deserves, the hasty statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on his behalf is shocking. On the day of his court appearance, widespread chaos ensued, resulting in the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. Thanks to the collective efforts of the public, this incident did not escalate into a major untoward event. The Hindu community in Bangladesh has consistently supported the establishment of a secular state. Their role in the country’s independence movement and all democratic struggles has been exemplary. Many members of the Hindu community actively participated in and sacrificed their lives during the July-August uprisings.”

The statement continued:
“Many Indian media outlets have described this mass uprising as a victory for Islamic fundamentalism. Hindus in Bangladesh have opposed this notion. The bonds formed during the struggle remain intact in this country. While religious communal groups do exist here, the collective unity of the population is the only way to curb their influence. The root causes of problems in both countries are fundamentally the same. These issues cannot be resolved through communal conflict or Hindu-Muslim tensions. Judging by the life struggles of ordinary people, there is essentially no difference between the two nations.

“We will continue our fight against communal tendencies and forces in our country, just as you will resist communalism in yours. By upholding the aspirations of those who sacrificed their lives for democratic movements in your country, you must counter these conspiracies. This struggle is a continuous one against exploitation, oppression, and the dominance of India’s big capital over both nations’ people. It is a unified fight against division, hatred, and religion-based opportunistic schemes. Together, we will ultimately triumph in this struggle.”

On behalf of the 145 citizens, the statement was sent to the media by Rafiquzzaman Farid, General Secretary of the Socialist Students' Front (Marxist). The signatories include Professor Anu Muhammad, Professor Salimullah Khan, and 145 other prominent Bangladeshi citizens.