“My parents live in a colony in the Bangladesh port city, where other Hindus too reside. Houses of minorities were identified, and owners received ransom calls of 5 lakh taka. ‘Quit the country or face death, if you can’t pay protection money,’ the caller said in a stern voice, identifying himself as a member of an Islamist group. We were told to keep the money ready. Others in the locality too received similar calls,” said Haldar in a TOI report.
Haldar moved to Dhaka after securing a job but his parents and relatives remain in Chittagong. He expressed concern over the threats, stating that while mob violence against Hindus is more common in rural areas, urban residents are not entirely safe either. The ransom calls have left the family anxious and on edge.
“I moved to Dhaka after getting a job here, but my parents and relatives stay in their native Chittagong. Mob is killing and looting the homes of Hindus in rural Bangladesh, but those residing in cities are safer. The ransom calls have left us shocked and worried,” said Haldar.
The callers, claiming affiliation with an Islamist group, warned that Bangladesh does not belong to minorities, urging them to pay protection money to stay. Though no one has yet come to collect the ransom, the fact that the callers had tracked their phone numbers has spread fear among the minorities.
Haldar noted a palpable tension even in the urban areas, where minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, tend to keep a low profile and avoid discussing political issues publicly.He also mentioned that the situation might have been different if Indian authorities had processed his long-term visa (LTV) application more quickly. Haldar lived with his uncle’s family in India, who had migrated during the 1971 war when minorities were targeted by the Pakistani army and militias. He came to India on a student visa and completed his engineering studies. After graduation, he applied for a long-term visa to stay and work in India. However, the visa process lagged, and by the time it was granted, his passport was about to expire, forcing him to leave India to avoid legal complications.”By the time I got the email that LTV had been granted, I was in Bangladesh and overstaying in India without a valid passport could have triggered legal issues,” he said.
In summary, the threats against Haldar’s family highlight the ongoing risks faced by minorities in Bangladesh, underscoring the broader climate of fear and insecurity. Minorities in urban areas maintain a cautious existence, while those in rural regions face more direct violence and extortion.
(With inputs from TOI)
