Abdul Hakiq Rumel, Farshatulla Khan, Apurba Sarkar, Mrinal Deb Roy, Achintya Biswas may be from different religions but they share the same ill-fate and nationality.
These Bangladeshi nationals are stranded in the no-man’s land at various entry points of the Indo-Bangla border of Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district, Fulbari in Jalpaiguri district, Hili in Dinajpur and Gede in Nadia district.
“We are returning to the mango orchards or paddy fields in the night and returning to this place during the day time as we fear for our lives… many of our friends and relatives are missing… some have been killed and their houses looted, women raped by the members of BNP and Jamaat,” said one of them at Gede border.
“Trains are not running, bus services have been discontinued … we have taken auto rickshaws or even ambulances … or hidden ourselves in hey-laden bullock carts taking village roads to reach this place and the BSF is not letting us in … where will we go … either shoot us or take us in,” cried Shamsher Alam Biswas a panchayat level leader of Awami League of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The reach people are able to save their lives but giving protection money to the local youths across districts of Rajsahi, Satkhira, Pabna, Khulna Barishal, Kumilla … only Dhaka and Chittagong are marginally safer … the local youths are charging lakhs of rupees to provide protection to the Hindu families … but what about us lesser mortals … we have either to spend the nights in the paddy fields or rush towards the borders,” said Haldar who did not want to disclose his full name and sneaked through Gede and went towards Krishnagar.
According to sources, Awami League youth wing leader Md Rubel Islam too has sneaked into India via Fulbari in North Bengal and is presently hiding at some place for the fear of his life. “They were searching for him and may … he was hiding in a Lichhi (soapberry) garden the whole night before managing to give the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles the slip … he has left back his daughters and wife … one wonders what will happen to them,” said one of the persons who know him.
Binod Biswas whose cousin Santan Biswas (name changed) has been a staunch Awami League leader and close to the topmost leadership of that party too is trying to sneak into India and has been standing somewhere near Gede or Petrapole border.
“Though it is not true that all the Muslim people are on the rampage because many of them are saving the Hindus … Santan’s family members have been saved by the local Muslim people … and they are in their safe custody … but how long … they are baying for his blood … first he is Awami League member and second he is a Hindu and so his house must be looted, family members must be raped and killed and he must be banished from Bangladesh … but he won’t … he will return … only for the time being he wants shelter here … we want the BSF to help by opening the gates partially … just like you do during the floods and cyclones … host them in camps for a month or two and when the situation normalizes they will return,” he says.
The According to Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council sources 45 out of 64 districts in that country are affected by riots where mostly Hindu homes, businesses or temples were being targeted.
The scene is no different in Thakurgaon border where 700-800 Hindu families had collected asking for a safe passage to India, local Bangla officials said assuring however security for the minorities.
