Hindu cultivators from Nadia tortured in Bangladesh

BSF expects betterment of situation still!   

Whatever are the claims of Indian administration of prevalence of amiability in the India-Bangladesh international border area in Nadia, it is getting increasingly difficult for Indian peasants from this district to cultivate in their own fields in Bangladesh thanks to recurrent efforts there to terrorize them. This is the prevalent situation in the realm of Nadia, prominent district of Bengal, holding thousands of tracts alongside the international border between India and Bangladesh. It is no secret that Bengal continues to bear the sin of Partition in 1947 thus far and Nadia, in particular, is at the nadir as tens of thousands of cultivators inhabiting here have own fields on other side of the international border. Whenever peasants go there to cultivate, they are either harassed by personnel of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) or commoners despising presence of Hindu farmers. Often, they are arrested by BGB personnel for unknown reasons and are released weeks later. Even if Border Security Force (BSF) has been informed of this repeatedly, there has been no development yet.  

Incidentally, on 1st February, Ganeshbehari Ghosh, living in Bijaypur within the jurisdiction of police station of Krishnagunj in the district of Nadia, went to the other side to cultivate his own land. At that time, he was attacked by a few Muslim people there with lethal weapons leading to critical injury. BSF, following complaints from Ganeshbehari’s family, went out later on and after several searches, security personnel found him in a field in an unconscious state and smeared with blood. He was admitted to the Majdia Health Center in a critical condition. The incident led to a popular resentment within the environs. The protest was not limited to Bijaypur only; it got support from other adjoining areas as well. More and more people there are being found to narrate their own persecutions at the hands of Bangladeshi Muslims. It is worth mentioning, Muslim cultivators either from Bijaypur or neighborhood moving to the opposite side of border to cultivate are never harassed. On 4th February a flag meeting, in this regard, took place between BGB and BSF. Even though people pleaded BSF to let them participate in it, the demand was brushed aside. People were found to protest against BSF.

Will a mere flag meeting between BGB and BSF be able to end this fiasco? This issue is haunting people as their daily experiences portray the intensity of anti-Hindu mindset in Bangladesh best. 

While speaking on this issue, Subrata Mukherjee, local inhabitant as well as leader of Trinamool Congress, said that the problem is stepping up with each day it passes and despite innumerable meetings there has not been anything prolific. He also expressed vexation of BSF’s obstinacy in prohibiting Indians from taking part in these meetings while Bangladeshis participate in large numbers. Pushpendu Singh Rathour, DIG of BSF, has assured villagers that the problem will be solved soon and BGB will look after the issue and ensure safety to Indian cultivators. However, none in the locality is ready to abide by this weird (?) theory and the narrative of Gopal Das (name changed for safety) represents the common view here.

When Gopal Das was asked of chances of amiability through this meeting, he said, “No humane meeting can render peace. My age is 72; I know them (the other community) ever since my childhood. We are basically from Bagerhat area of Khulna district and I know how my grandparents were butchered in 1950. Now, if we go there for cultivation, we will be in groups and fully prepared to stave off any attack. Personnel of BSF are not local; they don’t know history of Bengal and destruction of Hindus. We do not depend on them.”

Hindu Samhati regularly monitors and reports violations against Hindus in West Bengal. We also work with both governmental and NGO agencies for proper education on protection and ensure remedies to the Hindu populace as per prevailing law of the land.