Amid significant restrictions and attacks, the Sonatoni Jagaran Jot organized its divisional mass gathering in Rangpur yesterday. Centered around their 8-point demands, the rally transformed into a great ocean of Hindus. Participants from all 8 divisions attended, spreading out over an area of approximately 5 kilometers beyond the venue.
On the way to the rally, the participants faced obstacles and were attacked by some miscreants near the Kaunia bus stand and its surrounding area. Two participants were severely injured. The injured individuals are Nill Mohon from Lalmonirhat and Shipon Karmaker from Kurigram district. They have been admitted to a local hospital. However, the attackers remain unidentified.
The leaders of Sonatoni Jagaran Jot claimed, “Despite being threatened and facing significant political barriers and administrative obstacles, our gathering truly transformed into an ocean of people. To disrupt the program, the internet speed was deliberately slowed. However, due to the unanimous support for Sanatoni rights, it was impossible to stop the mass rally.”
The participants from different districts began gathering at the venue starting from Friday morning. As time passed, it turned into an ocean of people. By 3 pm, the leaders of the Jot were seated on the stage. The program was inaugurated with the National Anthem. Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesperson and one of the key organizers of the Sonatoni Jagaron Jot, officially inaugurated the event.
In a gathering, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari stated that among the 3 million martyrs of Bangladesh’s liberation war, two-thirds were Hindus. He also mentioned that among the 10 million refugees, 70% were Hindus, whose homes were attacked and looted. He criticized that despite the change of government three months ago, there has been no visible change. Attacks on Hindu homes, looting, and arson are still ongoing in some areas. He claimed that there is a concerted effort between extremist groups and parts of the government and political factions to expel the Hindu minority from the country.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari also pointed out that Hindus have been divided under labels like Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya Party. He emphasized that there is now a wave of unity, and any attempts to divide them will be rejected. He alleged that their rally location at the Zilla School Ground was changed, and under the direction of the police superintendent, they were forced to vacate their hotel. Buses coming from places like Syedpur, Jaladhaka, and Dinajpur were blocked on their way to the rally, and two or three individuals were attacked and hospitalized.
He expressed anger that the district commissioner did not meet with them, and criticized the absence of Hindu representatives in the constitutional amendment committee. He demanded that their position be clearly defined in the constitution based on religious law, family law, equality, justice, dignity, and neutrality, warning that no change would be accepted if these issues were not addressed.
Other speakers at the rally included Associate Professor Borno Kushal Chakraborty from Chittagong University, Swami Omeshananda Giri Maharaj from Giri Ashram in Chittagong, Swami Biprananda Ji from the Bangladesh United Sanatani Jagaran Jot, and Sri Sri Gopinath Brahmachari.
Earlier, the Sanatani Jagaran Jot was denied permission to hold their rally at the Zilla School Ground and was instead allowed to hold it at Mahiganj College Ground, several miles outside the city, with 15 conditions, including avoiding spreading religious provocation, anti-state rhetoric, or false claims of Hindu persecution.
Rangpur District Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal clarified that the Zilla School Ground was not allowed for the rally due to traffic congestion, as it is in the city’s center and causes inconvenience to residents.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari also claimed that despite booking their hotel, they were forced to leave under police orders, highlighting the oppression Hindus are facing in the country.
The hotel manager, Majnur Rahman, confirmed that they were asked to vacate, although he stated it wasn’t done in a forceful manner. He explained that the police needed the hotel for their personnel, and after further negotiations, the group was allowed to stay.
The Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council condemned the events, including the last-minute withdrawal of permission for the rally at the Zilla School Ground, the relocation to Mahiganj College Ground, the cancellation of hotel accommodations for the organizers, and the attacks on Hindus attempting to attend the rally. They called for the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for the attacks, as well as medical care for the injured. They also stressed that citizens have the right to peaceful assembly and that interference in this right is unlawful and against policy.