Khaleda Zia Must Apologize for her Derogatory remarks: BHBCUC, USA

BHBCUC, USA leaders met in an urgent meeting on Friday evening, 14th October 2011, at a restaurant in Jackson Heights, New York. The agenda at the meeting was the communal remarks against Hindu Goddess ‘Maa Durga’ made by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

The meeting passed a resolution condemning the opposition leader’s comment on Maa Durga and demanded unconditional public apology from her. The meeting observed that, numerous times in the past she had made derogatory remarks against Hindu religion and spread communal hatred. The house observed that, it was unbecoming of an opposition leader in the parliament for Begum Zia play politics with religion just to politically wound her opponent  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while also forgetting that her actions were hurting the feelings of Hindus and endangering the wellbeing of the whole country. The meeting concurred that it was customary for the Prime Minister as the head of the government to make a goodwill gesture to Hindus by visiting a Puja Pandle during one of their biggest religious event as it should  respect people of all religion. But the opposition leader has shown utter intolerance and disrespect to roughly 20 million minorities by making it an issue to score political points with her fundamentalist Islamist base. The meeting warned that the result of pitting one religious group against another is often very dangerous and it amounts to playing with fire which can be disastrous for her own career too. The meeting charged that the Hindu-Muslim riot that ensued in Pathargata, Chittagong right after her inflammatory remarks is a clear evidence of what impacts a leader’s irresponsible can have on its followers. The house demanded that the opposition leader must refrain from this kind of dirty politics and must seek apology for her actions. Otherwise, the religious minorities will hold her to account for her actions and take necessary steps to expose her and her cohorts to the international media, rights organizations, governments and public forum in and outside the country

The meeting was addressed by all three Presidents– Ratan Barua, Nabendu Dutta, Dr. Thomas Dulu Roy; General Secretary Sushil Saha; Joint  Secretary Chandan Sengupta; Pradip Das; C.R. Mondol; Pradip Malaker, Dr. Provat Das; Sitangshu Guha and others..Press Release