HINDU PRIEST MURDERED IN BANGLADESH

[Guest guest]

HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION EXPRESSES DISTRESS AT THE MURDER OF A

HINDU PRIEST IN BANGLADESH

 

 

 

October 30, 2005

 

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed deep distress at the

murder of a Hindu priest, Gopal Chandra Barman, 60, in the Narsingdi

District of Bangladesh on October 18, 2005. The priest of the Kali

Mandir at Shibpur was found murdered, and the dead body traced in a

river three days after he was kidnapped on October 18, "The Daily

Ittefaq" reported on October 24. It was also reported that the deity

in the temple, worth about ten million taka, is missing.

 

"This latest incident in the decades-old saga of repression of

religious minorities in Bangladesh should be condemned, and the

local authorities should be asked to quickly account for this

crime", said Ramesh Rao, Ph.D., executive council member of the

Hindu American Foundation.

 

In its recently released annual report on human rights of Hindus in

South Asia in 2004, HAF observed that over 400 attacks against

Hindus were reported in Bangladesh in 2004, including murder, rape,

kidnapping, temple destruction and physical intimidation. Hindus who

comprised nearly 30 percent of the Bangladesh/East Pakistan

population in 1947, now constitute less than ten percent of

Bangladesh's population.

 

"In recent years, the growth of Islamic fundamentalism has led to

the further marginalization of minorities in Bangladesh," said Dr.

Rao. "Hindus, as the largest minority group, bear the brunt of

terrorism and intimidation, and government apathy and abetment."

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/Content/Achievements/media_pre

ss_release_bangprist.html