AN INQUIRY INTO CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF DEPRIVATION OF HINDU MINORITIES IN BANGLADESH THROUGH THE VESTED PROPERTY ACT
FRAMEWORK FOR A REALISTIC SOLUTION

Edited by
Abul Barkat

 

Contributors
Abul Barkat
Shafique uz Zaman
Azizur Rahman
Avijit Poddar
Mahmud Ullah
Kazi Akbar Hussain
Subash Kumar Sen Gupta

Published by:

Aroma Dutta
Executive Director, PRIP TRust
House 59 / A, Satmosjid Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Phone: 8119111, 8115953, 8110789
Fax: 880-2-8116429
E-mail: prip@prip.org

First Published: July 2000
© PRIP Trust 2000
ISBN 984-31-0920-6

Price: Taka 550
US$ 30

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This masterpiece research reveals that just promulgation of an unjust Act was sufficient enough for the creation of an environment of endemic deprivation for the Hindu minorities; development of an environment of “chronic pollution” for the whole society and culture; creation and perpetuation of the “culture of denial” (irrespective of religious belonging); perpetuation of ill-motives of exclusion as against the inclusion; development of all the conditions to multiply depression, distress and discrimination; creation of an environment of violence and plundering and thereby formation of a ‘mind-set’ among some people which is strong enough to pollute, over time, many others in the society. Thus, the source(s) which form(s) the basis for such undesired outcomes should be eradicated, once for all – the Vested Property Act should be abolished. These are the solid conclusions transpire throughout this pioneering work.

- Aroma Dutta,Executive Director, PRIP Trust

The Vested Property Act, born in the process of colonialism-mediated communalism and nourished further by the feudalism-perpetuating military state of Pakistan (by the name of Enemy property Act) grossly violates all fundamental human rights, and is contradictory to the Proclamation of Independence in 1971 and many of our Constitutional Provisions. The Vested Property Act acted as a gross denial of all types of freedom to the Hindu community, especially the denial of most basic choice – the freedom to make a choice to deal with one’s own life, property, ownerships and assets. The magnitude of national disaster is so huge that this Act has victimised one million Hindu households (or five million Hindu population) who have lost two million of acres of land property and other resources. Although putting money value to loss of human freedom is impossible, the total amount of loss of land property and moveable assets by the Hindus affected by EPA/VPA would be about Tk. 15,05,204 million which equals to 88 percent of the current GDP of Bangladesh. Based on the holistic analysis, the verdict is obvious – immediately repeal the Act and resolve all the misdeeds done in the past by the name of this tyranny. Here substantive public action, and insightful leadership with cool head, courage and warm heart will do much to pave the way for accelerated human development in Bangladesh.

- Abul Barkat, Editor and Principal Author