USA Bureau 

The US chapter of the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging immediate and decisive government measures to ensure the safety and security of religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh.

The open letter, released to the media on.Tuesday  during the Prime Minister's visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, was signed by the organization's General Secretary Bishnu Gope, Presidents Dr Thomas Dulu Roy, Dr Dwijen Bhattacharjya, and Ranabir Barua, along with Executive Committee Chairman Prof Nabendu Dutta.

In the letter, the organization expressed deep concern over ongoing incidents of persecution, hate crimes, land grabbing, and violence directed against minority communities across the country. They noted that despite initial hopes for stronger democratic protections, extremist elements continue to target minorities with impunity.

Highlighting the existential crisis facing non-Muslim religious and ethnic groups, the leaders urged the government to address structural discrimination and the systemic failure to prosecute perpetrators of sectarian violence.

The leaders submitted a set of immediate and permanent demands to the Prime Minister. Immediate requests include the unconditional release of Hindu monk Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das and individuals detained under digital security laws, an executive order stopping hate speech in educational curricula and religious sermons, full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, and effective measures to prevent forced conversions and communal threats.

For permanent relief, the unity council called for the enactment of a comprehensive Minority Protection Act, incorporating provisions for a Hate Speech and Crime Law, the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Minority Affairs, a Minority Human Rights Commission, and a Minority Religious Foundation modeled after the Islamic Foundation.

Comparing the proposed legislation to the Acid Crime Control Act of 2002, the organization emphasized that a robust legal framework is essential to serve as a deterrent against future communal violence and to safeguard equal rights for all citizens.