Do the Hindus still consider us as their tenants? Friday October 07 2005 11:13:44 AM BDT Mohammad Zainal Abedin, Bangladesh It is very unfortunate to note that the India Hindus still seems to treat with the Bangladeshis in the same way how the Hindu zaminadars did with their Muslim tenants during the British period. History says, during the British rule the Hindu zamindars used to forcibly reaslise extortion in the name of subscription from their Muslim tenants during their several puja occasions. If any Muslim tenant had denied paying, hell would have imposed on them. They were not only harassed or assaulted in public, but also, in some cases, their belongings were looted or they were even driven away from their dwelling houses or their lands were usurped. The Bangladeshi passengers who travel to India through Benapole now-a-days face the spectres of the former zamindars. Indian hooligans harass and humiliate the Bangladeshi passengers if they fail to pay extortion in the name of subscription for puja. The incident occurs almost daily. According to news report from Benapole, the Indian hooligans forcibly realise extortion from the Bangladeshi passengers to celebrate the upcoming 'Durga puja.' The criminals handed over a receipt of subscription mentioning the amount according to their whims. They do not consider whether the victims have the capacity to pay the amount or not. If anyone expresses inability to pay the amount, they are forced to 'stand and wait' for hours, even in some cases, they are physically assaulted. Sources informed that more than two thousand Bangladeshi passengers daily go to and come from India through Benapole border. Their number has been increased on the eve of the 'durga puja.' Some of the passengers alleged that the Indian extortionists realise huge money from the passengers having Bangladeshi passports. They are to pay extortion at least in 30 points in between Petropole (India) land port to Calcutta. The extortionists realise the extortion in the name of several mandirs, puja mandop, clubs and associations. Those who express their inability to pay the amount, which the extortionists mention in the receipt according to their will, are subjected to humiliation and even physical assault. They are not exempted from paying extortion even after great importunity. The extortionists even snatch away all the belongings from the desperate passengers, who decline to pay the extortion. Indian BSF (Border Security Forces) assist the miscreants in realsing extortion or seizing their belongings. It is alleged that BSF also forcibly realises bribe from the Bangladeshi passengers. If anyone declines to pay bribe, they are forced to 'sit' (probably in their custody) for hours. Some of the passengers alleged that they were threatened to be branded as 'infiltrators' or 'Islamic militants,' when they questioned the reason of bribe. BSF personnel categorically said, either the passengers would pay the money or they would be sent to jail. The scared Bangladeshi passengers, who at time accompany their family members including women and children, return home losing their all belongings. It means the spectres of the dead Hindu zamindars of the resurrected adjoining the Bangladesh territory in India. A Muslim is not entitled to subscribe on any religious occasion of the Hindus. It is, in fact, religiously prohibited. On the other hand, realsing subscription forcibly from any individual is unlawful and gross violation of human rights. Besides, such practice with the foreigners is repugnant to international norms and law. Bangladesh government should immediately look into the matter and lodge strong protest with New Delhi and human rights groups in and outside India. It is the constitutional responsibility of the Bangladesh government to ensure the security of the life and property of its nationals when they are in a foreign soil. *