Hindus set effigy of editor Mahfuz, Shaheen Anam on fire

Hindu leaders on Friday burnt effigies of Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and his wife Shaheen Anam for hurting their sentiments over the Hindu law.

Slamming the duo, Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance (BNHGA) also urged the government to take legal action against the editor and his wife for advocating for the reformation of the traditional Hindu law.

They made the demand while staging a protest programme at Sutrapur in the capital.
Dhaka-4 constituency lawmaker Sayed Abu Hossain was the chief guest while BNHGA coordinator Bijay Kumar Bhattacharya presided over the session.

Babla, the lawmaker of Jatiya Party, said a quarter coils conspiracy against communal harmony though Bangladesh achieved its independence based on the principal of secularism.

“The Hindu Family Law is a sensitive issue. The community should decide on the law following their religious manner. However, some civil society members are trying to make interference on the issue to receive more foreign funds. The government should aware about the conspiracy,” he said.

JP vice chairman Salma Islam called upon the Hindu communities Bangladesh is the country for all religions.

“Your problems will be conveyed to the Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader,” she said, assuring that she would stand by them at any necessity.

BNHGA general secretary Gabinda Chandra Pramanik said that a vested quarter had been trying to destroy the Hindu community. Of them, Manusher Jonno Foundation led by Shaheen Anam, wife of Mahfuz Anam, is one of those organizations.

“Shaheen Anam and Mahfuz Anam have been asked to seek pardon for their conspiracy. But they are yet to pay any heed to the demand. So, series of programmes will be organized against them,” he said.

Activist Bijay Kumar said the oppression and discrimination against the community brought the Hindus to the street to protest the move of hurting religious sentiment.

“At present, some people and Manusher Jonno Foundation raise voice to reform the Hindu law. Who are they to raise voice to make an amendment to the law?” he posed the question.

They (Mahfuz Anam and Shaheen Anam) are trying to create internal feud among the Hindu community, through raising the demand, he added.

BNHGA search committee head DK Samir said the Hindus are the vote bank for Awami League while the Jatiya Party founder Hussain Muhammad Ershad also worked for the community.

“Now, a vested quarter has been trying to destroy the vote bank of the Awami League,” he said.

The leader urged the government to form a separate ministry and formulate a law for protection of the Hindus in Bangladesh.

“We have experts on Hindu law. But, Mahfuz Anam, Shaheen Anam and Angela Gomes are speaking on the issue without having any knowledge on the Hindu law,” he added.