National Citizen’s Committee, a platform for stakeholders in the July-August uprising, held a protest rally Tuesday against the attack on Bangladesh’s deputy high commission in Agartala, capital of India’s bordering Tripura state, that was allegedly led by an extremist Hindu group.
At the rally, speakers urged all the people of Bangladesh, regardless religion, political and culture to unite against Indian aggression and urged the Indian government to abandon its imperialistic approach and establish friendly relations.
During this time, leaders and activists who had gathered from various parts of the capital chanted slogans such as “Indian sycophant, beware,” “Down with Indian Hinduism,” “The administration must answer why attack on embassy,” “Break down the RSS black hand,” “Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka,” “Inquilab, Inquilab,” “Long live, long live,” and “Hindu-Muslim, build unity,” among others.
Nasir Uddin Patwari, the convener of the National Citizen’s Committee, said, “We dream of a peaceful South Asia, but some extremist Hinduism organizations sitting in Delhi’s throne are destabilizing this region. Yesterday, they attacked the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, which is an attack on our sovereignty. This attack is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention.”
He called on the people of South Asia to unite, saying, “We have driven out fascism like that of Hasina’s. The people of South Asia must unite. Together, under Dhaka’s leadership, we will break and shatter the throne of Delhi’s extreme Hinduism.” He appealed to the international community to resist this extremism, otherwise peace will be disrupted worldwide.
Akhtar Hossain, secretary of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee and former Social Welfare Secretary of DUCSU, said, “India’s sycophant, Hasina, has fled, and the people of Bangladesh are living in peace, which India cannot tolerate. Hasina’s minister Abdul Momen had said that the relationship between India and Bangladesh is like that of a husband and wife. But that is not the case at all. The relationship between India and Bangladesh must be based on fairness.
“Hasina has made several unequal agreements with India, where Bangladesh gets no benefit, but money must go to India. Such unequal agreements do not allow for a friendly relationship between Bangladesh and India.”
He added, “After 5 August, India’s various media have spread lies about Bangladesh, and the government of India has not taken any administrative steps against them. Various extremist Hinduism organizations continue to hold rallies and meetings, and the Indian government has taken no action against them. As a result, they had the audacity to attack the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, which is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention and international law.”
He called on the Indian government to bring all those involved with the attacking organisation, “Hindu Sangharsh Samiti,” to justice.
He also stated, “We have no enmity with the people of India. Our hostility is with the decisions imposed by India. However, the people of India must prove that they do not support extreme Hinduism.”
Addressing the people of Bangladesh, Akhtar said, “Do not fall for any conspiracies. You have always shown patience and wisdom, and you must remain steadfast. Our demands are just and equal.”
Advocate Manzur Al Matin, a member of the National Citizen’s Committee, said, “The cartoons of Debashish Chakraborty and the blood of Riya Gop are our inspiration, and because of them we stand here today. When they were killed, their identity was not questioned, whether they were Hindu or Muslim. People of all religions, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian want to live as citizens in this country. But the fallen dictator Hasina did not want that. We have liberated the country from fascism with our blood, and we will keep our independence.”
He urged India to extend its hand in friendship, saying, “Come forward for a friendly relationship with Bangladesh. We are ready to continue a relationship based on friendship.”
Other members of the Citizens’ Committee, including Saleh Uddin Sifat, Abdur Rahim Ripon, Akram Hossain, Onik Roy, Prithom Das, and SM Suza, also spoke at the rally.
