Minorities stage hunger strike demanding implementation of AL election manifesto

DU Correspondent :
Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikkya Parishad organized a hunger strike and demanded implementation of the election manifesto of Awami League to protect the rights of the minorities.
“The government’s failure to implement the election pledges about minorities concern has led to the existing communal violence,” protesters said.
They staged the hunger strike from morning to evening on Saturday in front of National Museum at Shahbugh.
“Every government after coming to power forgets the promises made in the election manifesto. Similarly, the ruling AL government did not implement the minority friendly promises made before the last election,” they added.
Their demands include the implementation of Awami League’s polls manifesto which promised laws to protect minorities, eliminate discrimination and the Hindu endowed property (Debottor) law. It also pledged a national minority commission, a Transfer of Entrusted Property Act, proper implementation of the Hill Tracts Peace Accord and the hill land commission law, and the formation of a separate land commission for the ethnic minorities in the hills and plain land.
Expressing solidarity with the mass hunger strike Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said, “The discrimination abolition law has already been raised in the parliament. Hopefully, it will pass immediately.”
Emphasizing being united, he said, “Trying to talk every moment about proper implementation of Hill Tracts Peace Accord and the hill land commission law. Now we need to unite more steadily.”
“It is a matter of deep shame for us that the promises given in the election have not been implemented so far. We want the good sense of the government to emerge soon and take immediate action about it,” General Secretary of the Oikkya Parishad said.