In 30 years, there will not be a single Hindu in Bangladesh

A Bangladeshi Hindu may today feel dejected as he belongs to a religion which has just one country to look up to. And that one country is largely indifferent to his plight. He is also seen to be carrying the baggage of being the civilisational part of Bharat, which no longer cares for him. So, if there is a Hindu-Muslim discord in Bharat, the Hindus of Bangladesh pay back with their lives and properties.

The Hindus in Bangladesh are dismayed at the utter failure of its leaders. Ironically, while Muslims in India prospered, the same cannot be said about minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Hindus of East Pakistan were also let down by their own local, regional leaders. Language and culture often work as an antidote to religious fundamentalism. The strength of the two was seen in 1971 when Bangladesh rebelled out of Pakistan despite coming into existence in the name of religion.

However, Islamism is a tenacious force. It weathers away the strength and vitality of culture and language that unite people beyond religions. In Bangladesh, the battle between the two is on. But sadly, with each passing day, the forces of Islamism are gaining ground over liberal forces. This has to do with the fundamental nature of an Islamic society where liberals function well in normal circumstances. But during emergency, the liberal class makes a vanishing act.

On finer points there is little difference in the policy of the ‘liberal’ Awami League and the ‘fundamentalist’ Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The blame also lies with Bharat, which looks the other way when Hindus are persecuted and killed in its neighbourhood, especially in Bangladesh.

Ironically, when Narendra Modi’s Government tried to correct this with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019, it was a Hindu-versus-Muslim issue. The fate of the legislation hangs in balance today. So does the future of Hindus in India’s immediate neighbourhood.

(Courtesy : https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/in)