Minority people to go on hunger strike on July 2

Religious and national minorities have said that they will go on hunger strike across the country for a day on July 2 in protest at the government move to amend the constitution by keeping religion-based discrimination and not recognising national minorities as 'indigenous.'

The Bangladesh Adivasi Forum and the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporter's Unity on Wednesday also threatened a greater movement such as black flag procession, general strike and fast-unto-death if the constitution was amended by keeping religion-based discrimination.

They also threatened to boycott the general elections, likely to be held in 2014, if the demands were not met.

The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council general secretary, Rana Dasgupta, read out a paper at the briefing where he said that on June 20, the government had approved the recommendation of the special parliamentary committee on constitution amendment which is a 'serious discrimination' against the minorities.

He also said that the way the amendment was being made was against the Supreme Court verdict and it would not restore the constitution as it was on adoption in 1972.

The Adivasi Forum general secretary, Sanjeeb Drong, said that the ruling Awami League had stepped away its election manifesto, which said that the party recognise national minorities as 'indigenous people' and the country would be made secular.

The Unity Council chairman, CR Dutta Bir Uttam, lawyer Subrata Chowdhury, politician Ajoy Roy and educationalist Sabitri Bhatta-charya also spoke.

Source : New Age