Hindus write to US President: 6 Congressmen’s letter biased, false

The Hindu community leaders wrote letters to US President saying that the six US congressmen’s letter dated 25th May to Joe Biden that claimed of persecution on Hindus in Bangladesh is all baseless lies and fabricated.

Letters from globally acclaimed Hindu community representative organization International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and Avoymitra Mahashmsan Parichalana Committee, Chattogram, both dated 20 June read, `We are writing to let you know that the claim brought by those biased six US congressmen is an outright lie.”

“This is to inform you that the assertions made in the letter are baseless and fabricated. The US congressman’s claim should be treated as a travesty of truth and this was done for nothing better rather to create a threat to the existing communal harmony in Bangladesh.”

`The fact remains that, with the return of Bangladesh Awami League in power under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina since 2008, the minority community has been living in harmony’, the letters said adding, even in few isolated incidents of communal disharmony it was the government that promptly and firmly responded by taking strict measures to address such issues and took appropriate preventive measures.

`We are strongly protesting those biased US congressmen’s assessment about the minority community group, and there is no authenticity of the claim that since Sheikh Hasina’s rise to power the Hindu population has been halved’, the leaders wrote to Biden.

They said, `this is not just an unjustified baseless claim but this also portrays an immense wrong perception and we hereby out rightly reject the false fabricated statement of those biased congressmen’s letter to President of the United States of America.’

The Hindu leaders in their letters also provided statistics on significant benefits received by Hindu community from the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government. They mentioned, Awami League slogan `Dhormo Jaar Jaar, Utsob Shobar,’ (religion as one’s own, but festivals are common) demonstrates its secular values and the government always provided adequate security at all festivals of religious minorities.

The letters mentioned, `according to Pew Research Center, the Awami League government’s policies have positively impacted the Hindu community in Bangladesh and even the US State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report acknowledges that Bangladesh has taken steps to protect religious minorities, including Hindus and that the government enacted legislation to prevent religious discrimination and violence, and they have actively condemned any form of religious persecution.’

Leaders also said, the Awami League government prioritized the development of infrastructure, education, and healthcare in Hindu populous areas and also addressed historical grievances and ensured the voices of Hindu community be heard. In the national parliament, seats are reserved for religious minority communities, including Hindus, ensuring their participation in the decision-making process, it depicted.

The Hindu leaders also affirmed that, `Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the one who is maintaining the principle of secularism fighting against the extremist and fanatic groups and thus we must say we are safe as long as Sheikh Hasina is in power as she is the only hope for upholding Bangladesh’s founding principal of secularism.’