4 February 2006
Dear Friends and Human Rights Defenders,
Again there is a threat from the International Khatme Nabuwat Movement against the small rural Ahmadiyya community of the Danikhola Village under Trishal Police Station in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. This fanatic religious group has declared they will attack the Ahmadiyya community on 10 February 2006. In the past, this fanatic group committed a number of attacks on Ahmadiyya communities, their houses and mosque complexes, leaving at least 3/4 people dead and hundreds injured.
There is an urgent need to stop further attacks on the Ahmadiyyas, particularly the women and children. It is the moral responsibility of the Government of Bangladesh to curb violence that takes place in the name of religion. The government should protect every citizen of the country, particularly the helpless ethnic minority groups and small religious sects. Under no circumstances should the Government of Bangladesh allow further attacks on the Ahmadiyya community.
There is a ray of hope that on some occasions, if not in all occasions, the government has instructed the police to restrain the unacceptable activities of this fanatic group. For example on 23 December 2005, the police took appropriate measures to stop the group from attacking the Ahmadiyya Complex in Dhaka. If we all urge upon the government to stop the ensuing attack, it might work.
What you can do is to write a modest letter to the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh requesting her to ensure appropriate security for the Ahmadiyya community, particularly the women and children. The letter can be faxed or emailed to Her Excellency at the contact information provided below.
Her Excellency
Begum Khaleda Zia
Prime Minister
People's Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Airport Road, Tejgaon
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Fax: +880 2 811 32 43 / +880 2 811 10 15
email:
pmo@pmobd.org
If you email or fax an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh please also copy it to us at the address provided below.
In solidarity,
Sharif A. Kafi
Director
Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre (BDPC)
138Ka, Pisciculture, Shyamoli
Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
Phone: 880-2-9119624 / 880-189-238 438
Fax: 880-2-9119624
bdpc@agni.com
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