Around 200 prominent Bangladeshi Americans have said the recent letter from six US congressmen to President Joe Biden – demanding stricter sanctions against the Bangladesh government – contains “false and misleading information,” reports UNB.
The claim in the congressmen’s letter, “Since Sheikh Hasina’s rise to power, the Hindu population has been halved,” is categorically false and hides the real reasons behind the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, they said.
In particular, the letter ignores the October 2001 post-national election violence unleashed on the Hindu community by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami led coalition, the Bangladeshi Americans said.
The congressmen’s letter also contains “incorrect information” about the persecution of the Christian population in Bangladesh under the current government, they observed.
“We, the undersigned Bangladeshi Americans, request the congressmen to withdraw the false information from the letter,” they said.
The wrong information would not only undermine the credibility of the congressmen’s stance on minority rights in Bangladesh but also jeopardize the security and safety of the undersigned Bangladeshi Americans, according to their statement.
Noted Bangladeshi Hindu, Christian and Buddhist leaders have already rejected the claims about the state of minority communities in Bangladesh made in the congressmen’s letter as categorically false.
They also indicated that false claims hide the real culprits behind minority persecution in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad leader Rana Dasgupta said that the congressmen’s claim of Hindu population being “halved” under Sheikh Hasina’s rule is a “travesty of truth.”
“We understand that the US elected representatives sign many statements. But false information in congressmen’s letter to President Biden is concerning and detrimental to the Bangladeshi minority communities,” wrote the Bangladeshi Americans.
“We again request the congressmen to withdraw the false and misleading information from the letter for the security, safety, and wellness of the Bangladesh minority and undersigned Bangladeshi Americans who have been actively fighting for minority rights in Bangladesh for decades,” they said.
The signatories are:
1. Dr. Nuran Nabi, Councilman, NJ
2. Prof. ABM Nasir, Professor, NC
3. Abu Ahmed Musa, Councilman, MI
4. Rana Hasan Mahmud, Engineer, CA
5. Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Professor, PA
6. Shikrithy Barua, IT Engineer, NY
7. Abul Khan, State Representative, NH
8. Mahbubul Alam Taiyab, Milborne City Mayor, NH
9. Nurul Hassan, Councilman, Milborne City, NH
10. Dr. Sufian A Khandakar, Scientist
11.Dr. Ashraf Ahmed, Scientist and Writer
12. Dr. Joti Prakash Dutta, Writer, FL
13. Prof. Abu Naser Rajib, CA
14. Morshed Alam, Activist, NY
15. Ahad Ahmed, Engineer, MI
16. Dr. Baman Das Basu, Scientist, MA
17. Safeda Basu, Activist, MA
18. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, Community Leader, NY
19. Dr. Mohshin Patowari, Professor, NY
20. Jamal Uddin Hossain, Cultural Personality, AL
21. Dr. Mohshin Ali, Writer, NY
22. Dastagir Jahangir, Journalist, VA
23. Fahim Reza Noor, Activist, NY
24. Dr. Zeenat Nabi, Scientist, NJ
25. Hassan Ferdous, Columnist & Writer, NY
26. Maj (retd) Manzur Ahmed, Community Leader, NY
27. Dr.Pradip Kar, Scientist,NY
28. Dr. Protap Das, Physician, NY
29. Kowshik Ahmed, Editor, NY
30. Lovlu Ansar, Editor,NY
31. Rafayet Choudhury, Activist, NY
32. Abu Taher, Activist, PA
33. Soud Choudhury, Activist, NY
34. Dr. Mizan R Miah, Professor, IL
35. Dr. Jamil Talukdar, Professor, WI
36. Dr.Shahadat Hossain, Professor, NY
37. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Professor, NJ
38. Dr. Khandakar Monsur, Scientist, MD
39. Dr. Syed Abu Hasnat, Teacher, MA
40. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Businessman ,GA
41. Tajul Imam, Artist, NY
42. Abdur Rahim Badsha, Businessman, NY
43. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Scientist
44. Abdul Qader Mia, Community Leader, NY
45. Zakaria Choudhury, Community Leader, NY
46. Bedarul Islam Babla, Commuinity leader, NY
47.Mintu Rahman, Community Leader, GA
48. Nadira Rahman, Community Leader, GA
49. Arefin Babul, Community Leader, GA
50. Dr.Shahab Siddique, Scientist, GA
51. Mohammed Ali Babul, Lawyer, NY
52. Mohammad Mowla, Community Leader, GA
53. Jharna Choudhury, Theater Artist, NY
54. Lutfun Nahar Lata, Artist, NY
55. Dr. Faruk Azam, Physician, NJ
56. Mian Helal, Businessman, NJ
57. Shamsun Nahar Helen, Technologist, NJ
58. Iqbal Yousuf, Community Leader, MA
59. Atiqur Rahman, Community Leader
60. Rumi Kabir, Writer, GA
61. Ali Ahmad Farish, Businessman, MI
62. Rashed Ahmed, Community Leader, NY
63. Sitangshu Guha, Journalist, NY
64. Dr. Dilip Nath, Teacher, NY
65. MA Salam, Community Leader, NJ
66. Fakir Ilias, Poet, NY
67. Mishuk Selim, Poet, NY
68. Khaled Sharifuddin, Poet, NY
69. Abu Sayeed Ratan, Poet, NY
70. Hassan Al Abdullah, Poet, NY
71. Mithun Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY
72. Minhaj Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY
73. Shakawat Ali, Community Leader, NY
74. Dr. Abdul Baten, Scientist, NY
75. Dr. Hasan Masud, Teacher, NY
76. Shahid Hasan, Artist, NY
77. Rathindra Nath Roy, Artist, NY
78. Istiaq Rupu, Poet, NY
79. Gopal Sannal, Community Leader,NY
80. Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Tuku, Businessman, NY
81. Dr. Nahid Banu, Scientist, NJ
82. Mahbub Reza Rahim, Community Leader, AZ
83. Dr. Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ
84. Golam Faruk Bhuyan, Businessman, NJ
85. Rehan Reza,Community Leader, KS
86. Dr. Hasan Mamun, Teacher, NJ
87. Zahedul Mahmud Zami, Community Leader, CA
88. Towfik Solaiman Khan, Community Leader, CA
89. Nazrul Alam, Community Leader, CA
90. Saifur Rahman Osmani, Broadcaster, CA
91. Dr.Golam Mostofa, Professor, PA
92. Rabiul Karim Belal, Businessman, PA
93. Dr. Ahsan Choudhury, Engineer, TX
94. Hashmot Mobin, Community Leader, TX
95. Shah Halim, Community Leader, TX
96. Maggie Halim, Community Leader, TX
97. Dr. Anisul Aslam, Physician, CA
98. Mohammad Billah Rana, Businessman, CA
99. Hadi Billah Roba, Businessman, NV
100. Quazi Shahraiar Rahman, Engineer, CA
101. Karimul Haque Chowdhury, Businessman, CA
102. Bashir Ather, Scientist, CA
103. Tapan Mondol, Social Worker, CA
104. Shah Alam, Community Leader, CA
105. Maminul Haque Bachchu, Sr. Community Leader, CA
106. Tasnim Salam Aslam, Engineer, CA
107. Abed Mansur, Community Leader, CA
108. Habib Ahmed Tia, Community Leader, CA
109. Mofazzal Hussain, Community Leader, CA
100. Mohammad Hossain Rana, Community Leader, CA
101. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, Community Leader, CA
102. Asaduzzaman Bachchu, Businessman, MI
103. Dewan Zamir,Engineer, CA
104. Belal Beg, columnist, NY
105. Nini Wahed, Journalist, NY
106. Dr.Farjahan Rahman Shawon, Professor,NC
107. Dr.Khondoker Mansur, Community Leader, NY
108. Khurshid Anowar Bablu, Community Leader, NY
109. Hassan Al Abdullah, Writer, NY
110. Syed Abu Hasnat, Professor, MA
111. Dr.Delwar Hossain, Professor, AL
112. Iqbal Yusuf, Director, Intl.Sustainable Development
113. Atiqur Rahman, Businessman, FL
114. Hassan Jahangir, Businessman, FL
115. Junaid Akhter,Community Leader, FL
116. Dr. Hemayet Ullah, Professor
117. Dr. Mahbub Pramanik
118. Dr.Purobi Bosu, Writer, FL
119. Farhana Iliyas Tuli, Poet, NY
120. Syed Mamunur Rashid, Poet, NY
121. Swapnil Firoze, Poet, NY
122. Liton Ahmed, Activist, NY
123. Golam Mohiuddin, Musician, GA
124. Nazrul Islam, Community Leader, GA
125.Farque Ahmed, Community Leader, GA
126. Mohin, Community Leader, FA
127. Abul Hassan, Community Leader, GA
128. Ahmadhur Parvez, Community Leader, GA
129. Dr. Mohammed Nasim, Community Leader, GA
130. Mahmud Abbas, Community Leader, GA
131. Mohammad Akbar Khan, Community Leader, GA
132. Reza Karim, Community Leader, GA
133. Ali Hosen, Community Leader, GA
134. Pintu Yusuf, Community Leader, GA
135. Nurul Kabir Nahid, Community Leader, GA
136. Mojammel,Community Leader, GA
137.Moshiur Rahman, Businessman, GA
138. Russel Bhuiyan, Businessman, Ga
139. Arefin Pial, Teacher, GA
140. Mahrufur Bhuiyan, Businessman, GA
141. Borhan Uddin, Community Leader, GA
142. Rashedul Karim, Businessman, GA
143. Bindu Hossen, Singer, GA
144. Rezaul Bari, Activist, NY
145. Abul Bashar Chunnu,Activist,NY
146. Nabendu Dutta,Professor, NY
147. Siraj Ahemd Sohag, Community Leader, NY
148. Shyamal Chakraborti, Community Leader, NY
149. Pranobondhu Chakraborti, Engineer, NY
150. Mohammad Fazlul Haque, Community Leader, NY
151. Parimal Karmakar, Community Leader, NY
152. Jhorna Chowhdury, Artist, NY
153. Syed Rashid Ahmed Karmani, Businessman, NY
154. Ruksana Karmani, NY
155. Farque Ahmed, Businessman, NY
156. Dilara Ahmed, Activist, NY
157. Touqid Chowdhury, Activist, NY
158. Saniyet Ahmed Chowdhury, Engineer, NY
159. Toujiat Chowdhury, PhD student, NY
160. Alim Khan Akash, Businessman, NY
161. Sabita Das, Activist, NY
162.Abul Bhashar Bhuiyan,NY
163. Shareb Ahmed,NY
164.Rontu Lal Das,NY
165. Harun Chowdhury, VA
166. Santosh Barua, Poet, VA
167. Nupur Chowdhury, VA
168. Gourab Golpo, Artist, VA
169. Nasrin Ahmed Munna, Artist, VA
170. Dr.Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ
171. Nahid Chowdhury, Businessman, NJ
172. Mir Chowdhury, Community Leader, NJ
173. Rafiqul Islam, Businessman, CA
174. Tasnim Salam Aslam ,CA
175. Mizanul Kabir, P.O., CA
176. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, Community Leader, CA
177. Asaduzzaman Bacchu, Community Leader, CA
178. Masud Chowdhury, Community Leader, CA
179. Mohammed Hossain Rana, Businessman, CA
180. Ruhul Amin, Businessman, MI
181. Abdul Muhit Mukta, Businessman, MI
182. Mohoshin Uddin Tipu, Businessman, MI
183. Md. Sirajuddin Tipu, Community Leader, MI
184. Dr.Adnan Morshed, Professor, WA
185. Dr.Atiar Rahman, FDA statistics, VA
186. Dr. Sadek Chowdhury, VS
187. Alauddin Ahmed, Community Leader, VA
188. Dr.Zahed Chowdhury, Software Engineer, VA
189. Nizamuddin Ahmed, CEO, Huge Network, VA
190. Saleh Ahmed,Activist, VA
191. Swapnik Khan,Activist,TX
192. Redwan Chowdhury, Community Leader, D.C.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque