From: indu@iss700.Columbia.NCR.COM ()
Subject: Refugees and Infiltrators  - Cong(I) report on Bangla. Problem
Originator: indu@iss700
Organization: NCR Corp, E&M-Columbia, Columbia, SC
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 18:47:41 GMT

Congress-I  report on Infiltration from Bangladesh

Friends!

   In this article, the Congress General secrataries put  forward  the various 
   qustions, facts and reasons for the EXODUS from Bangladesh. They question 
   the Hicommand for not taking the right action. What can we do in this 
   direction?

   WHAT WILL THIS PROBLEM  TURN INTO, after 10 years - a problem which the 
   country's ruling party and Main Opposition  party have acknowledged  and
   plan to tackle.

-Indu


13. In this context the story of Chittaging Hill  Tracts  CHT  is
one of the  tragic episodes in the recent History. Once inhabited
by the tribals this beautiful  land  has  been  captured  by  the
Muslims. Between 1979 and 1984 the governmen t has settled 4 lakh
muslims in  this  area.   As  there  was  no  provision  for  the
protection    of    ethinic   minorities   in   the   Bangladeshi
constituition, the invasion from neighboring areas continued  and
led  to  clashes  and  protracted   armed resistance by the Major
Tribal groups the Chakmas. In this situation the  regime sought a
military  solution  and  thousands  of   refugees crossed over to
India. In 1974 there were 5.08 lakh people  in CHT area. In  1981
the  population  increased  to  5.80  lakhs  a growth  of 14.17%.
Against this the Muslims in 1974 were 96000  ahich  increased  to
1.88  lakhs  in 1981, a growth rate as high as 95.83%.  All other
tribal groups except for  Tripuris  recorded  a  negative  growth
varying between -5% to -7.5%. The threats to the ethinic identity
and ther culture and land was  evident.

14. Under growing pressure of International opinion the  District
Council  Act was  passed in 1989  to give autonomy to the region.
In the CHT three district councils  were  created.  The  district
councils  were  given powers excepting  foreign affairs, finance,
defence, and the reserve forests which  are  40%   of  the  total
land.  A  scrutiny  of the provisions of the act will reveal that
the Counciils have gpot very little power to  settle  the   vital
issues,  effecting  their   security,   as well as other economic
rights including their right to land. Even in the  representation
to  the  council  the Major tribe, Chakmas have been delibarately
cornered as they were the ones who fought for their  rights.  The
militarisation  of  the  tract  by   establishing three permanent
garrisons in addition to 12 police stations,  have been  designed
to suppress any dissent. In  this context one wonders how Chakmas
in Tripura camps  could ever return. In fact,  the  flow  of  the
refugees remains steady  as the  oppression continues.

15. The arrival of Bangladesh of several lakhs of Rohinga muslims
from  Arakans  of Myanamar  has added a  new dimension. The Jamat
has been pressing  for  the  settlement  of   Rohingas   in  CHT.
Already  clashes  between Jamat led Rohingas and Buddhist tribals
of CHT  has resulted in loss of lives. More refugees from CHT are
heading towards India.



16. The ongoing debate on  the question on Infiltration  has  not
only  generated   much  heat  but  is also bringing to light much
information.

16.1  Between 1971 and 1981 Bangladesh census show a reduction of
39 lakhs in the minority  population.

16.2  Between 1981-89 36 lakhs of people of religious  minorities
are missing from that country.

16.3  In 1972 there were 7.5 lakh Biharis in the camps in  Dacca.
As  a  result  of mediation by  Saudi  Arabia, only 33000 of them
were accepted by  Pakistan. At present  there  are  less  than  2
lakhs in the camps, WHERE HAVE THE REST GONE?

16.4  Bangladeshi journalists  met  bangladeshi  muslim  families
living  in  Delhi.  Took their picture and wrote about their life
style in Decca daily. According to  them  there  are  about   1.5
lakhs  of  Bangladeshi  Muslims  in   Delhi.  According  to other
sources there are 3.5 lakhs of  them  in  Delhi.  What  ever  the
number they came from Bangladesh.

16.5 In July 1990,  the  Bangladesh   Muslims  residing  in  West
Bengal,   formed   an   Organisation  named  "Bangladesh  Mojahir
Sangastha". On 12th February 1991  the  spokesman  of  the  above
Organisation told the  press conference that there  were ONE LAKH
Bangladeshi nationals in West Bengal at that time, and many  more
were  spread  in  Delhi,  Bombay and Ahmedabad whose total number
would exceed 5  lakhs.

16.6  Shri M.M.Jacob, union Minister of state said in  Parliament
in  December  1991  in   reply to question that there were 1 lakh
Bangladeshi Muslims in Delhi and 5.87 in West Bengal.

16.7  Here we  are  speaking  of  records.  About   what  is  not
recorded and what cannot be recorded  we have our own  experience
and  Observations  to  rely  on.   The  economic  stagnation   in
Bangladesh  has compelled many Muslims besides minority groups to
come to India for earnings. There is also floating  population  -
comprising  all  communities   -  who come and go back with their
earnings. In such a  scenario it is only natural that  some  part
of  it  is  settling   down in  our areas. We also accomdate them
with no questions asked as we require cheap and scarce labour  in
construction, farm and house hold work.

17. It is time to ponder. If Bangladeshis are  infiltrating  into
Delhi,  Bombay,  Ahmedabad,  Culcutta etc,.  should we think that
there is  no infiltration into Tripura  which  has  867  k.m.  of
Border  without  any   natural  barriers and into Assam which has
about 300 K.M. of Border with Bangladesh?

18.  It  would  be   interesting  to  note  that  a    group   of
intellectuals  in   Dacca  seekin  to legitimise the migration of
Muslims in to  North Eastern  region by invoking  the  theory  of
LEBENSRAUM  or  living   space. A number of Dacca dailies carried
article written by Unversity professors. They  were  not  at  all
apolegetic.   People  are  sought to be inspired by the hope that
one day the North Eastern reion  will  be  added  to  Bangladesh,
giving  it  a  natural  Boundary inplace of the present one which
throttles the Bangladesh.


           *******  END of part 4 of Cong(I) report on Bangla. Problem ****


-Indu.
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|  My  views expressed above are made on a PERSONAL basis              |
|  No Group or  Organization   can be held responsible                 |
|                                ( for those in quest of truth .......)|
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