United Nations’ attention drawn to racial profiling of Hindu officers in Bangladesh

Suhas Chakma. File | Photo credit: X/@chakmasuhas

Guwahati

A New Delhi-based human rights organisation has urged the United Nations to pay attention to racial discrimination by Hindu officials under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code. Caretaker government in Bangladesh under the leadership of Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus,

The Rights and Risks Analysis Group on Thursday (September 5, 2024) urged the UN Special Rapporteurs handling contemporary forms of racism, freedom of religion or belief and minority issues to prevent racism. Caretaker government in Bangladesh Stopped him from making racist comments against his Hindu officers.

In an order dated August 29, 2024, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Cotton and Jute directed various departments and institutions under it to provide a list of Hindu officers of the joint secretary level by September 2. The order comes after Bangladesh President’s Department of Personnel directed all ministries and autonomous institutions on August 27 to provide such a list.

“The Bangladesh President’s demand for a list of only Hindu officials is nothing but an act of racial discrimination against Hindus by the Bangladesh government aimed at specifically targeting minorities on the basis of their religious belief,” said Suhas Chakma, director of the human rights group.

“There is a genuine fear that senior officials belonging to the Hindu minority will be targeted and effectively silenced. This is a violation of UN human rights laws relating to racial discrimination and minority rights and is a fit case for UN rapporteurs to intervene,” he said.