Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Why is Rabindranath Ghosh’s home in Bangladesh under attack?


Why is Rabindranath Ghosh’s home in Bangladesh under attack?
May 2018
Partition Center Report

We are shocked and saddened to learn that Chittagong (Chattogram) home of the noted human rights defender of the world Mr. Rabindranath Ghosh, Founder President, Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) has recently been attacked and demolished by a Muslim goon (see identification in his legal complaint). Ghosh has been defending especially the persecuted Hindu minority in the Muslim-majority Bangladesh, as well as defending secular Muslims under attack and Christian, Buddhist, atheist and non-Muslim tribal minority under oppression. We are saddened that as yet none of the terrorists has been arrested and no reparation has been paid to his family. We hope that Bangladesh Government will speedily arrest the criminals and bring them to justice. Sri Rabindranath Ghosh has been doing a heroic job in documenting oppression of the victims when their temples are destroyed, homes torched, women and girls abducted, property confiscated, forcefully converted, Viharas and Churches come under attack, Hindu deities desecrated, businesses damaged by marauding Islamist terrorists. It is worth noting that Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Food Minister Kamrul Islam blamed the victim lawyer-activist Ghosh for his trouble according to media reports (see below) as Ghosh sought ministers’ intervention.

Here are some pictures of his destroyed homes, legal briefs, and a few other examples of heroic acts in defending the oppressed when Ghosh visited terror victims and filed reports with the police for necessary action by the Administration.

Here are media reports on destruction of his home:
More on destruction of his home:
BANGLADESH: TODAY 300 PERPETRATORS ATTACKED HOUSE OF ADV. RABINDRA GHOSH -PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH MINORITY WATCH TONIGHT AT ABOUT 8.30 P.M. VALUABLE PROPERTIES LOOTED. HOME MINISTER DID NOT ACT. – Report by BANGLADESH MINORITY WATCH; Wednesday, May 23, 2018
HOUSE OF ADV. RABINDRA GHOSH -PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH MINORITY WATCH
AGAIN ATTACKED TONIGHT AT ABOUT 8.30 P.M. VALUABLE PROPERTIES LOOTED.
HOME MINISTER DID NOT ACT.
The repeated attack on Human Rights Defender - Advocate Rabindra Ghosh and his house tonight (23.05.2018) at about 8.30 is a conspiracy to stop humanitarian activities for the minorities of Bangladesh.
Previously the houses of Adv. Ghosh was also demolished/looted on 24th April 2018 at about 1.30 a.m. The local Councilor Mr. Hajee Mohammad Nure Alam of Dhaka City Corporation most illegally instituted false criminal case No.41 (3)2018 against Advocate Rabindra Ghosh for alleged extortion of money (চাঁদা দাবি) of Taka 5,000,000 from Mr. Hajee Nure Alam. Police accepted the case and rendered Ghosh in a great distress.
Mr. Ghosh tonight also met with Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Minister for Home Affairs, at his official residence in Dhaka who said in presence of some MPs “Why you are constructing a house within a river or khal (canal)? Why did you not meet with Food Minister Advocate Kamrul Islam for an amicable solution? He also continued to say “Why you are damaging the integrity of the country? Why are you putting the country in a peril?
He also continued to say “Why you keep a relationship with Dr. Richard Benkin (of the U.S.)? Lastly, he said "If you prove the lands you purchased is a personal property rather than Govt. property, no person in your area at Kamrangirchar will harm you any more " All those utterances on the part of Home Minister at his home made me astonished and unsafe for rest of my life and security (said Ghosh). But the Minister did not instruct his police officers to arrest the perpetrators responsible for the repeated demolition of Ghosh’s house and looting of valuables.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED.
I would urge upon the conscious citizen of the country to come forward for the lives of myself and also lives of other minority communities in Bangladesh and take urgent Action. Please see the reports:
বাংলাদেশ মাইনরিটি ওয়াচ এর সভাপতি অ্যাডঃ রবীন্দ্র ঘোষের কাম্রাঙ্গিরচরে্র বাড়ী ভুমি দর্শু দ্বারা পুন আ্ক্রান্ত হয়েছে অদ্য ২৩।৫।২০১৮ রাত ৮ টা ৩০ মিনিটের সময় । লুতপাট হয়েছে মুল্য বান সামগ্রী।
ইতিপূর্বে বিগত ২৫।৪।২০১৮ ইং তারিখে অ্যাডঃ রবীন্দ্র ঘোষের বাড়িতে ভুমিগ্রাসিরা লুতপাট ও আক্রমন করে। পুলিশ উলটো ঘোষের বিরুদ্দে ৫০ লক্ষ চাঁদা দাবির মামলা নেয় । মিঃ ঘোষ রাত ৯।৩০ মিনিটের সময় দেশের সরাস্ত মন্ত্রি আসাদুজামান খান কামালের বাসভবনে সাক্ষাত করেন এবং উক্ত ঘঠনার বিবরন দেন। মন্ত্রি বলেন "আপনি খালের উপর বাড়ি করছেন কেন । আপনি খাদ্য মন্ত্রি আডঃ কাম্রুল ইসলামের সংগে দেখা করেন" তিনি এহাও বলেন আপনি উক্ত জমি বাক্তিগত প্রমান করতে পারলে কাম্রাঙ্গিরচরে আপনাকে কেও টুকা দিতে পারবেনা। অতীব দুক্কের বিষয় হল মন্ত্রি মোহোদয় পলিশকে আসামী গ্রেপ্তার করার কোণ নিদেশনা দেন নি ।

Destroyed Home of Rights Advocate Ghosh
Rabindranath Ghosh's Destroyed Home
Destroyed Chittagong Home
FIR at Police Station
Agrabani Newspaper Report

Newspaper Report of AL (ruling Awami League Party) and its supporters
Document False Case on Victimizing the Victim

A few of the recent work of human rights advocate Ghosh on reporting and defending the oppressed:

May 22, 2018
BANGLADESH : HINDU MINORITY SCHOOL CHILD GANG-RAPED AT GHEOR UPAZILA (sub-district) OF MANIKGONJ DISTRICT ON 22.05.2018 : police failed to arrest perpetrators.

FACT FINDING OF GANG-RAPE INCIDENT OF MINORITY CHILDREN (13) AT GHEOR
UPAZILA OF MANIKGONJ DISTRICT. BDMW INVESTIGATING. U.P. MEMBER LET THE
PERPETRATORS to ABSCOND. (Source: The daily Somokal dated 27th May 2018 )

http://samakal.com/todays-print-edition/tp-last-page/article/18054871/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A7%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF


May 12, 2018

Unknown perpetrators on the night of 9th May 2018 trespassed the Hindu temple situated at "Mohashasan Kali Mandir" and desecrated located at Gopalgonj Sadar District, GOPALGONJ.

গোপালগঞ্জ পৌর মহাশ্মশানের কালী মন্দিরের মূর্তি ভাংচুর করেছে দুর্বৃত্তরা। ( Source :
https://bangla.bdnews24.com/samagraba…/article1492831.bdnews)

https://bangla.bdnews24.com/samagrabangladesh/article1492831.bdnews



May 12, 2018

FACT FINDING OF FORCEFUL CONVERSION OF HINDU SON AND GIRL OF SRI SAWPAN KUMAR NATH, HATHAZARI Police Station, CHITTAGONG DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH
Shuvo Nath (15) and Srabanti Nath (17)
FIR of Missing Siblings at the Police Station

April 18, 2018
FACT FINDING OF BDMW ON THE INCIDENT OF FORCEFUL OCCUPATION OF "CHANDRA JEWELRY" SHOP BELONGING TO SHREE (Mr.) NETAI DUTTA OF KHULNA CITY CORPORATION, Bangladesh
Inquiry at the Police Station
Daulatpur, Khulna District, Police Station

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bSRYvlHolvGXM31BCkhqY2pPqcLN5XTU/view 


April 4, 2018

Fact-finding on the attack on Principal of Hindu Shevasram and four victims seriously injured on 04.02.2018, taken to local Hospital at night at Bahadurpur village of Monirampur Upazila (ssub-district) of Jessore District. ( Jagonews24.com dated 5th February, 2018.


Jessore Hindu Victims

April 2, 2018

HINDU SCHOOL GIRL (16) KIDNAPPED ON March 3, 2018, GANG-RAPED and PUBLISHED RAPE SCENARIO IN PUBLIC MEDIA BY FIVE MUSLIM PERPETRATORS. POLICE ON THE BASIS OF F.I.R.FILED BY SHRI SHABBYA CHASHI BARMAN-NIECE. THREE PERPETRATORS ARRESTED BY POLICE.


Name of perpetrators: 1) Mohammad Masud Rana (35), 2) Mohammad Abdul
Majid (32), 3) Mohammad Qumrul Hasan (30), 4) Mohammad Nasiruddin (25)
5) One unidentified person.
Rape Victim
FIR Police Complaint

HINDU SCHOOL GIRL (16) KIDNAPPED ON 03.03.2018, GANG-RAPED and
PUBLISHED RAPE SCENARIO IN PUBLIC  MEDIA BY FIVE MUSLIM PERPETRATORS.
POLICE ON THE BASIS OF F.I.R.FILED BY SHRI SHABBYA CHASHI
BARMAN-NIECE. THREE PERPETRATORS ARRESTED BY POLICE; TWO ABSCONDING AT
PANCHAGARH DISTRICT OF DEBIGONJ POLICE STATION.

February 24, 2018

Perpetrators demolished, set on fire and desecrated Five Hindu Deities of Sree Sree Rakka Kali Mandir (temple) at North Mohammadpur village of Senbag Upqzila of Noakhali District.

Destruction of Black Mother Kali's Deity

Perpetrators demolished, set on fire and desecrated Five Hindu Deities
of Sree Sree Rakka Kali Mandir at North Mohammadpur village of Senbag
Upqzila of Noakhali District on 13th February,2018 ( Source : Bangla
Tribune, dated 15th February,2018)


November 4, 2017
Mr. Ghosh's interview at ISPaD: Indian Subcontinent Partition Documentation Project Inc. at New York City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1r92ybXCPc 



Mr. Ghosh's presentation at Partition Center Office in New York City:
With Moderators
A Section of the Attendees
With Few of the Guests
Before the Presentation Started

October 21, 2017
Canada Human Rights Conference: Protection of Non-Muslim Minority in Bangladesh
Mr. Ghosh Presenting
Ghosh with a Group of Attendees
Some of the Panelists








Thursday, April 5, 2018

Martyrs’ Memorial Girls’ High School, Doihari Village, Swarupkathi Police Station, Pirojpur District, Bangladesh



Martyrs’ Memorial Girls’ High School, Doihari Village, Swarupkathi Police Station, Pirojpur District, Bangladesh

(Shahid Smriti Madhyamik Balika Bidyaloi)

Sachi G. Dastidar

On a much-awaited visit to a remote corner of southern coastal deltaic Bangladesh, SriRamKathi village of BhimKathi area of Pirojpur District New York’s (U.S.A.) Probini Foundation delegates Executive Secretary Shuvo G. Dastidar and this writer met folks of the area to discuss a possible school construction at the Pranab Ashram. The 175 mile distance from Bangladesh capital Dhaka takes a day’s journey either by river boat or by bus crossing many river ferries, although journey by boat or steamer is certainly a pleasurable-yet-unhurried way to travel. 
 

 
 

 
In 2007 as soon as we reached the SriRamKathi Pranab Ashram it seemed celebration began. Boys and girls and their parents were already waiting for us. Welcome began by saying Namaskar or Greetings with folded hands, women ululating and others blowing conch. With announcements from the head (Hindu) monk via ashram’s loudspeakers streams of local residents started to pour in. Words of mouth spread like wild fire. We joined rest of the crowd in singing, playing, chatting, and offering Hindu prayers in a Muslim-majority land. Some in the crowd took Shuvo for a walk in the village, while others took me for walk, chat and tea. Both Shuvo and I took a look at the possible site for a new school building that the locals were pleading with Probini for help. (Probini has built the school building named Probini Bhavan [Building].) Some people imagine more powers in us than actually we possess. One distraught poor oppressed Hindu father came to us seeking justice for her daughter. His daughter, first graduate of the family, was kidnapped in midday, abused then murdered by drowning by a Muslim gang. And the local administration was reluctant to punish the killers. In desperation he thought we foreigners could be his “last straw” for justice. There were others who shared their pleasure and pain. Soon dark fell. Some headed home, others moved indoors for further briefing. In darkness entered a group of newcomers accompanied by Monk Sunil, a swami, or ordained Hindu monk. Guests took off their shoes and went straight to touch my feet to show their respect and affection. Swami introduced them as a group of people from a nearby school desperately needing help. Swami said “They need help badly. The school was wiped out after a storm a few months back. Their school has no roof. School’s dorm has been wiped out, and kids are sleeping in rooms without any roof. Older Brother, please help them. If it delays our school project, so be it. They need urgent help.” We said, “Probini doesn’t help without a firsthand report, and we have no time to visit their school.” Students and teachers started begging and crying to take us to their school. Changing our plan next morning we took a boat ride to that coastal island, one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. Some of the structures were completely gone. Headmaster Nirmal Chandra Dhali, a Hindu, who lived in the school dorm with rest of the resident girls had organized a meeting with founder of the school, Mr. Sikdar, a Hindu minority, and many other important personalities in hours notice. During Bangladesh Liberation Movement in 1971 on the school site 136 Hindus were corralled by the Army of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its Bengali Islamist allies then shot or hacked them to death, including Mr. Sikdar’s father, a headmaster. Thus he gave the name Martyr’s Memorial in memory of his father and other’s killed when he founded the school. There were several individuals killed who could not be identified as they were brought from other islands. Their Hindu families may also have been killed.

The monk at nearby SriRamKathi Pranab Ashram in his attitude of self-sacrifice said, “If you can, please help them first. We can wait. Their need is urgent and immediate” That’s what Probini did.

Over a decade mostly-minority students have done very well in nationwide exams. Now it has been upgraded to a higher level able to teach junior college-level courses.

Funds for building the dorm (hostel) came from the following: Probini Foundation Members in the U.S.; The Late Ronald E. Moehle; St. Francis College of Brooklyn; Dorothy Phelan in memory of her parents Mary & Thomas; Mrs. Baby Chowdhury; Ms. Vanitha Venugopal; in Memory of Tulshi Sengupta of New Jersey; Drs. Eloise Linger and Ernst Harsch; in memory of Ranu Banerji by daughter Mita; in Memory of Comilla-born (1908) Mrs. Jyotirmoye Sen by nephew Pratip Dasgupta; and Drs Sabyasachi Ghosh and Shefali Sengupta Dastidar.

Here are some pictures from Martyrs’ Memorial Girls’ High School.

Heading off from SriRamKathi to Doihari

Beginning of Boat Journey

Shuvo on the boat with Hosts

Riverside

BhimKathi Ghat (bathing and boat landing area)

Headmaster Dhali, facing camera, leading the Boat

Going under a Footbridge Connecting two Delta Islands

Friends who Came to take the Guests to Doihari Village


Enjoying the Scenery Going by Boat from SreRamKathi to Doihari (Island)

Headmaster Dhali (right) welcoming Guests at the Doihari Boat Landing

Welcome by Students to the School

Welcome by Students

Students and Monks at one of the Surviving Structures

Roofless (blown away by Hurricane) Girl's Dorm Room

Roofless (jute-sack covered) Girl's Dorm Room

Remains of a Classroom

Saying Goodbye to Visitors returning to SriRamKathi

Building Under Construction


Building under Construction with Supervision from Headmaster Dhali (on rooftop)

Memorial with Names of Hindu Mass Murder Victim

School Students with Probini Tablet on Back

Probini Tablet with Donors' Names
 

Sahid Smriti (Martyrs’ Memorial) Girls’ High School

Doihari, Swarupkathi, Pirojpur

Probini Foundation (New York) School & Student Dormitory (Reconstruction)

This Concrete Building, Roofs Built by:

The Late Ronald Mohle

St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York

In Memory of the Late Mary & Thomas Phulan by Daughter Dorothy

Srimati (Ms.) Baby Chowdhury

Srimati Vanitha Venugopal

In Memory of the Late Tulshi Sengupta of New Jersey

Srimati & Sri (Ms. & Mr.) Eloise Linger & Ernest Harsch

In Memory of the Late Ranu Mukherji by Daughter Mita

In Memory of the Late Jyotirmoyee Sen (Born: Comilla, BD) by Nephew Pratip Dasgupta

Sri & Srimati Dr. Sabyasachi Ghosh & Dr. Shefali Sengupta Dastidar

June 2009


New School Building

Martyr's Memorial

Some of the Names of Individuals Murdered by Pakistan Army and Bengali Islamists
 
 Mass Murder Memorial Tablet

(Ganahatya Smriti Falak)

DURING THE INDEPENDENCE WAR OF 1971 ON MAY 24 THE SAVAGE PAKISTAN ARMY AND ITS LOCAL ALLIES MURDER VICTIMS’ NAMES AND THE LIST OF MARTYRS AT DOIHARI UNION NO 6

(Swadhinata Juddhye Barbar Paak Haanadar Bahini O Tader Sthaneeyo Doshorder Hatey 1971 Khristabder 24 May, 6 No Doihari Unioner Mrityubaaran kari Sahidder Naamer Talika)

No.        Martyr Names                Name of Father/Husband                           Village  

1. Jadab Chandra Byapari

F: Basanta Byapari

Vil: Ganakpara

2. Amalya Byapari

F: Sishu Lal Byapari

Vil:: Ganakpara

3. Nakuleshwar Mandal

F: Ram Sagar Mandal

Vil:: Ganakpara

4. Krishnakanta Bepari

F: Kartik Bepari

Vil:: Ganakpara

5. Nani Gopal Mridha

F: Hari Charan Mridha

Vil:: Ganakpara

6. Kali Charan Rai

F: Raghu Nath Rai

Vil:: Ganakpara

7. Ananta Kumar Haldar

F: Durga Charan Haldar

Vil:: Ganakpara

8. Lalit Bepari

F: Kartik Bepari

Vil:: Ganakpara

9. Manindra Nath Mridha

F: Nibaran Mridha

Vil:: Ganakpara

10. Bishwabandhu Haldar

F: Balram Haldar

Vil:: Chailabuniya

11. Mahindra Nath Bepari

F: Samit Bepari

Vil:: Chailabuniya

12. Dhriren Bepari

F: Satin Beapari

Vil:: Chailabuniya

13. Laxmikanta Bepari

F: Punno Chandra Bepari

Vil:: Chailabuniya

14. Khirad Rai

F: Rashik Rai

Vil:: Chailabuniya

15. Lalit Majhi

F: Chandra Kumar Majhi

Vil: :Bashtala

16. Surendranath Bepari

F: Basanta Bepari

Vil: :Bashtala

17. Sarat Mandal

F: Ishwar Mandal

Vil::Bashtala

18. Lalit Mandal

F: Akhil Mandal

Vil: :Bashtala

19. Eshaan Mandal

F: Baikuntha Mandal

Vil:  Bashtala

20. Dhiren Haldar

F: Shasthi Haldar

Vil: Bashtala

21. Shasti Haldar

F: Gopal Haldar

Vil: :Bashtala

22. Ashwini Boral

F: Chandrakanta Boral

Vil: :Bashtala

23. Kanakprabha Haldar

F:Kumbha Bihari Haldar

Vil::Thaliya

24. Srinath Haldar

F:Madav Haldar

Vil::Thaliya

25. Bisheswar Haldar

F: Jageshwar Haldar

Vil::Thaliya

26. Nityananda Haldar

F: Ambika Haldar

Vil:: Thaliya

27. Bhagban Haldar

F:Buddhimonto Haldar

Vil:: Thaliya

28. Manada Shundori Bepari

Husb- Sarada Bepari

Vil:: Thaliya

29. Kartik Bepari

F: Kali Charan Bepari

Vil:: Thaliya

30. Ashwini Haldar

F:Kuturam Haldar

Vil:: Thaliya

31. Nirmal Haldar

F: Khirad Haldar

Vil:: Thaliya

32. Bishai Haldar

F: Agwato

Vil:: Thaliya

33. Sunil Haldar

F: Ashwini Haldar

Vil:: Thaliya

34. Nirodh Bihari Samandar

F: Kali Charan Samandar

Vil: Pareshkathi

35. Upendra Nath Mandal

F: Ambika Mandal

Vil: Pareshkathi

36. Sakhanath Edbor

F: Kali Charan Edbor

Vil: Pareshkathi

37. Kartik Chandra Shikdar

F: Nanda Kumar Shikdar

Vil: -Doihari

38. Sarat Chandra Chakraborti

F: Eshaan Chakraborti

Vil: -Doihari

39. Nani Gopal Mandal

F: Jageshwar Mandal

Vil: -Doihari

40. Krishna Pada Das

F: Rai Charan Das

Vil: -Doihari

41. Kali Charan Das

F: Rai Charan Das

Vil: -Doihari

42. Surendra Nath Das

F: Meghnath Das

Vil: -Doihari

43. Ramani Das

F: Bhakta Das

Vil: -Doihari

44. Kamal Das

F: Surendra Das

Vil: -Doihari

45. Kumar Bhunja Mali

F: Nakuleshwar Bhunja Mali

Vil: -Doihari

46. Sudeb Das

F: Surendra Das

Vil: -Doihari

47. Haridas Mazumdar

F: Bholanath Mazumdar

Vil: -Doihari

48. Gauranga Bhunja Mali

F: Nakuleshwar Bhunja Mali

Vil: -Doihari

49. Prasanna Kumar Mandal

F: Gaurchad Mandal

Vil: -Doihari

50. RajLakshmi-Hauladar

F: Madan Lal Hauladar

Vil: -Doihari

51. Bishembar Bepari

F: Chandra Kanta Bepari

Vil:  Aamtala

52. Ram Charan Bagchi

F: Rupkumar Bagchi

Vil:  Aamtala

53. Mahendra Nath Bepari

F: Ankur Bepari

Vil: Thakur Haula

54. Prafulla Goldar

F: Agwato

Vil: Chiltala

55. Chitto Rai

F: Mukundo Rai

Vil: Karfa

56. Lab Mandal

F:Ashwini Mandal

Vil: Karfa

57. Kush Mandal

F:Ashwini Mandal

Vil:: Karfa

58. Sukharanjan Banik

F:Kartik Banik

Vil::SriRamKathi

59. Rakhal Pagla

F: Unknown

Vil: Unkhown




In Courtesy of Pirojpur District Administration. 

Note: Locals believe that there were many more Hindus brought from other coastal islands were killed by Pakistan Army and its local Muslim collaborators. These victims couldn’t be identified in the middle of the genocide as families and neighbors fled for safety. Additionally, many more bodies may have been dumped into rivers, as in other areas.

(Tablet Names: Courtsey of Bikas Sikdar of Doihari Village, Bangladesh; 2021)

 

Entrance to the School

PROBINI GIRLS' DORM (PROBINI CHHATRI NIBASH)


Some of the comments via the Internet:

Good work.
Mohsin Siddique
April 7, 2018

Thanks so much. Very moving but impressive. Pl carry on with your noble mission!
Shubho Nonboborsho
Saradindu Mukherji
April 15, 2018

Cool, and congrats!
Joyeeta Dastidar
April 15, 2018