Indian Citizenship (Amendment) Act: It may encourage minorities to leave: Oikya Parishad

Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad -- an organisation for religious minority communities -- yesterday expressed concern over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, passed by the Indian government recently.

Speaking at a press conference, Oikya Parishad leaders said the new law may “encourage” members of minority communities to leave Bangladesh hoping for better security in India.

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Oikya Parishad held the press conference at its office in the capital’s Paltan area to provide the organisation’s reaction on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

On Wednesday, the controversial bill was passed at the upper house of the Indian parliament -- making non-Muslim illegal migrants eligible for Indian citizenship.

The decision sparked violent protests in different parts of India, forcing some state governments to impose curfew and suspend internet and messaging services. It also earned criticism in Bangladesh and other parts of the world.

Amid such situation, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday gave his assent to the bill, turning it into a law.

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, Oikya Parishad General Secretary Rana Dasgupta said India could solve citizenship issues through bilateral or multilateral discussions instead of creating a religious division.

“India is known as a secular democratic country around the world, but the policies of its current [BJP-led] government may jeopardise that image,” he added.

In a written statement, he also said a large number of people from minority communities -- Hindus, Buddhists and Christians -- left Bangladesh over the years, but the organisation has no data on how many Muslims from Bangladesh moved to India.

About the minority rights situation in Bangladesh, he said minority population is gradually decreasing in the country although the government claims that the number has been rising slightly in the last few years.

“We want to see some visible actions from the government for protection of the rights of minorities, as the ruling party made such commitments before the previous national polls,” he added.

The minority leader also said the ongoing religious division may expand further if the issues are not resolved immediately.

Several other leaders of Oikya Parishad, including Neem Chandra Bhowmik, Kajal Debnath and Nirmol Rozario, were present at the event.