Agartala, October 5: Braving heavy rain on Saturday, the Left Front in Tripura organized a protest rally in Agartala to condemn the ongoing atrocities against minority communities in various parts of Bangladesh.
The rally, held under the umbrella of the Left Front, saw participation from several political parties, including the CPIM, CPI, RSP, and Forward Block, with a large number of supporters taking to the streets despite the adverse weather.
Former Chief Minister and CPIM leader Manik Sarkar, the chief speaker at the event, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the urgency of protecting minority communities in Bangladesh.
He noted that the turnout of protesters during the festive season and in difficult weather conditions reflected the deep concern people felt over the targeted attacks on minorities across the border.
Sarkar, a CPIM politburo member, stressed that the true measure of democracy in any country is whether minorities enjoy the same rights as the majority, particularly the freedom to practice their religion without fear. “If these fundamental rights are not ensured, then claims of a functioning democracy are hollow,” he said.
The former Chief Minister highlighted recent agitation in Bangladesh, led initially by revolutionary student organizations, against the quota system for freedom fighters, which has since escalated.
He expressed his confidence in the people of Bangladesh, who have previously brought about governmental change, and urged them to take immediate action to stop the violence against minorities.
Sarkar called on the interim government in Bangladesh to take concrete steps to curb the attacks and ensure the safety and security of all minority communities. “Mere speeches on democracy are meaningless unless firm action is taken against those inciting violence,” he added.
Sarkar, a four term Chief Minister, also warned that the divisive politics seen in Bangladesh, aimed at creating religious tensions, could spill over into neighboring Indian states like Tripura and West Bengal, which share cultural and geographical proximity.
Sarkar urged the people of Tripura to remain vigilant and safeguard communal harmony during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, which are celebrated by all religious communities in the state.
Recalling historical instances of minority persecution in Bangladesh, particularly during the rule of the BNP following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sarkar mentioned the forced migration of the Chakma community into Tripura.
He commended the then Left Front government in Tripura, which, with the support of the Congress government at the center, provided shelter to the refugees.
Sarkar also acknowledged the eventual repatriation of these refugees after the Awami League government, led by Sheikh Hasina, came to power.
In a positive note, Sarkar pointed out that despite the current violence, there have been instances in Bangladesh where the majority Muslim community stood up to protect minority groups and their religious institutions.
He called on this section of the population to continue defending the principles of unity and democracy and to pressure the interim government to take decisive action against the perpetrators of these attacks.
The rally concluded with a large public address at Orient Chowmuhani, with protestors carrying umbrellas as they marched from Agartala City Centre. Notably, a significant number of participants were from the local minority Muslim community, reflecting the widespread concern over the situation in Bangladesh.
It is also worth noting that the ruling BJP’s ally, TIPRA Motha, had organized similar protests across the state earlier, raising the same issues of concern for the minority communities in Bangladesh.
