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Home  Worldwide  Bangladesh  February, 2006  Crowley says …
Crowley says minority rights must be protected

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Crowley says minority rights must be protected - Daily Star, Bangladesh - February 22, 2006

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Crowley has respect for Bangladesh democracy - The New Nation, Bangladesh - February 21, 2006

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Crowley stresses religious tolerance - The Independent, Bangladesh - February 22, 2006

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Crowley calls for protecting rights of minority - New Age, Bangladesh - February 22, 2006

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Crowley calls for protecting rights of minorities - The News Today, Bangladesh - February 22, 2006

The Daily Star
Committed to PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 617Wed. February 22, 2006

Front Page

Crowley says minority rights must be protected

Staff Correspondent

Visiting US Congressman Joseph F Crowley meets leaders of the Ahmadiyya community at Bakshi Bazar in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STARUS Congressman Joseph Crowley yesterday said the Bangladesh government must protect the rights of the minorities to uphold democracy in the country.

“In the homework of democracy, the duty of the majority is to protect the minorities’ rights,” he told journalists after a meeting with Ahmadiyya leaders at Bakshibazar in the city.

Joseph F Crowley, co-chair of congressional Bangladeshi Caucus who arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a three-day visit, also held a meeting with the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad (BHBCOP) leaders and Mahanagar Sarbojaneen Puja Committee at the Dhakeswari National Temple.

Earlier, Crowley placed wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.

He appreciated the religious harmony and practice of democracy in Bangladesh, but said the government should take appropriate measures on the allegations of the minority communities in Bangladesh.

On what he learnt about the concerns of the minorities, Crowley said they are sensing threat from the majority within Bangladesh. “I think, probably, it is minority within the majority that makes that.”

The minorities are also concerned about their inability to express themselves through publications which is a violation of human rights, he added.

“It is important for the US to maintain the relations with Bangladesh,” Crowley said, adding that his country wants to help positively the democracy in Bangladesh to flourish.

Meer Mobashsher Ali, nayeb-e-ameer of National Ahmadiyya Jamaat, while briefing journalists after their meeting with Crowley said the congressman enquired if media reports on the attacks on the Ahmadiyyas are true. “We told him that the media in Bangladesh is quite free and the reports of Ahmadiyya repression is true,” he said.

He said they thought their situation in the country should be brought to the concern of the international community. “But of course, if the government wants, it can stop any attack on the Ahmadiyyas as it protected us at Trishal on February 10,” he added.

He said they expect that good sense will prevail in the government and it will protect the rights of the minorities as is ensured in the constitution. “There should be something effective like a human rights charter on international basis to protect the human rights of the minorities,” he noted.

Earlier at the meeting, the BHBCOP submitted a memorandum to the US congressman, demanding repeal of the fifth and eighth amendments to the constitution to establish a secular and democratic state diminishing all disparities.

It demanded proper inclusion of the country’s minority voters as well as 5.5 million voters staying in India in the voter list and assurance of free and fair elections under a neutral caretaker government and an independent Election Commission.

The BHBCOP memorandum also demanded equal rights and proportional representation in every sphere of life, including parliament, cabinet, defence and civil administration, and assurance of safe return of 10 million minorities who have left the country at different times.

The memorandum urged the government to fulfil the legitimate demands of the aboriginal and indigenous communities, including preservation of their culture and heritage, and implement the CHT Treaty.

The increase in terrorist bomb attacks over the last few years, especially in recent time, follows “directly from the communal state system and the Islamised constitution of Bangladesh”, it said, adding, “The extremist forces are enjoying support of the present coalition government.”

The communal forces perpetrated widespread attack on the non-Muslims before, during and after the general elections in 2001, and they are now conspiring to deprive the religious minorities of their voting rights in the coming elections, the BHBCOP alleged.

BHBCOP President CR Dutta, General Secretary Dr Nim Chandra Bhowmik and other leaders were present at the meeting.

Crowley also met Archbishop Paulinus Costa, chief of the Catholics in Bangladesh, at the Ramna Cathedral in Kakrail.

Source: www.thedailystar.net/2006/02/22/d6022201022.htm
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The News Nation
Last Updated (US EST): Tue, 21 Feb 2006 10:28:32
City News

Crowley has respect for Bangladesh democracy
By
Tue, 21 Feb 2006, 10:27:00

US Congressman and Cochair of Congressional Bangladesh Caucus Joseph Crowley Tuesday urged the government to promote its steps to protect the rights and interests of religious communities in Bangladesh in an atmosphere of religious tolerance.

“Given the nature of world today, it is not only here in Bangladesh but also around the world tolerance is becoming a commodity in short supply,” he said to underline the need for nurturing a culture of tolerance to hold down a growing wave of intolerance worldwide.

The visiting US lawmaker made the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting Dhakeswari Temple, Ahmadiya Complex and St Mary’s Cathedral in the city where he met with leaders of three religious minority communities.

Appreciating Bangladesh as a democracy, Crowley, who arrived here on a 3-day visit on Tuesday, said the essence of democracy is to protect the interests of the minority by the majority.

He also suggested respect for freedom of speech and ability to disseminate materials of multiple religious communities in the country. Asked what concerns the minority leaders expressed during his meetings, Crowley said they expressed some “sense of threat” from the majority within Bangladesh. “I think, probably, it is minority within the majority that makes that.” Some also expressed their concerns about inability to express themselves through publications, which is a violation of human rights, he said.

The US Congressman thought that the establishment of the Human Rights Commission would help protect the minority.

However, Crowley praised the steps being taken by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s government to protect the minority communities and hoped that these efforts would further be strengthened. “I want to encourage to continue to promote their (government) steps they are taking in terms of protecting the minority community.”

On Bangladesh’s political situation, Crowley said he has profound respects for Bangladesh as a democracy and the loving people here in Bangladesh and in New York. He said it is important for the United States to maintain the relations with Bangladesh, adding that the US wants to help positively the democracy in the country to flourish. Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad leaders Major Gen (Rtd) CR Dutta, Prof. Nim Chandra Bhoumik, Kajol Devnath, Swapan Kumar Saha, and Christian Association leaders Nirmal Rojario and Milon Gomej briefed Crowley at Dhakeswari Temple.

Nayeb-e-Amir of the Ahmadiya Jamaat Prof. Mir Mobasser Ali briefed him at Ahmadiya complex at Bakshibazar and Archbishop Paulinus at Kakrail Church.

© Copyright 2003 by The New Nation
Source: http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_25794.shtml
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The Independent, Bangladesh
  Politics News  
Wed. February 22, 2006 
Crowley stresses religious tolerance

STAFF REPORTER

Visiting US Congressman Joshep F Crowley yesterday stressed the need for religious tolerance and protection of rights of minorities and said religious tolerance was becoming a commodity in short supply these days.

“My message here, after visiting the Hindu temple and Ahmadiya Mosque in Dhaka, is I’m very much supportive of religious tolerance here in Bangladesh,” he told reporters after visiting different places of worships in the city.

Crowley, also the co-chair of Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a three-day unofficial visit. On arrival, Crowley visited Dhakeshwari Temple, Ahmadiya Mosque and also St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kakrail, besides having closed-door meetings with religious leaders on the situation prevailing here.

On Tuesday, Crowley also visited the Central Shaheed Minar on Amar Ekushey and laid wreaths to pay homage to 1952 Bengali Language Movement martyrs.

Among others Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad leaders, Major Gen (Rtd) CR Dutta, Prof. Neem Chandra Bhoumik, Kajol Devnath, Swapan Kumar Shaha, and Christian Association leaders Nirmal Rojario and Milon Gomej briefed Crowley at Dhakeswari Temple.

Nayeb-e-Amir of the Ahmadiya Jamaat Prof. Mir Mobasser Ali also briefed him at Ahmadiya complex at Bakshibazar and Archbishop Paulinus at Kakrail Church.

During his stay, Crowley is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina.

Terming religious tolerance ‘essence of democracy’, he called for gearing up measures to protect the rights of religious minority communities in Bangladesh.

Terming religious intolerance ‘a worldwide problem,’ the US Congressman said it was not only a problem for Bangladesh, but for the world as a whole. He underscored the need for promoting religious tolerance.

Responding to a question on violation of religious rights alleged by some minority religious leaders, Crowley said, “Well, I also heard about this from them.” Some of them expressed such concerns in Bangladesh.

“Not only in Bangladesh, everywhere in a democratic country the state should take steps to protect the rights of the minorities,” he added.

He, however, welcomed the steps taken by government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and said, “Bangladesh is the only Muslim majority country which is protecting the interest of the minorities.”

Crowley said, “I have profound respects for Bangladesh as a democracy and the loving people here in Bangladesh and in New York…. It’s important for the United States to maintain the relations with Bangladesh.”

“Language is very important to the people for its identity, culture and nationalism,” he told reporters after placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar, and praised Bengali language as an identifiable feature for the nation.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof. SMA Foiz received Crowley at the Shaheed Minar on arrival.

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Source: http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/feb/22/22022006pl.htm#A3
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New Age, Bangladesh
Dhaka, Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Crowley calls for protecting rights of minority
Pays homage to language martyrs
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

The US Congressman, Joseph Crowley, on Tuesday urged the government to take strong measures to protect the rights and interests of minority communities in Bangladesh in an atmosphere of religious tolerance.

   ‘Given the nature of world today, tolerance is becoming a commodity in short supply– it is not only here in Bangladesh but also around the world,’ Crowley, also the co-chair of the Congres-sional Bangladesh Caucus, said.

   He made the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting Dhakeswari Temple, Ahmadiyya Complex and St Mary’s Cathedral in the city. He met the leaders of three minority communities there.

   The US lawmaker underscored the need for nurturing a culture of tolerance to contain the growing wave of intolerance worldwide.

   Appreciating Bangladesh as a democracy, Crowley, who arrived here on a three-day visit on Tuesday, said the essence of democracy was to protect the interests of the minority by the majority.

   He also suggested respect for freedom of speech and ability to disseminate materials of multiple religious communities in the country.

   Asked what concerns the minority leaders expressed during his meetings, Crowley said they were feeling some ‘sense of threat’ from the majority here. ‘I think, probably, it is minority within the majority that makes that.’

   Some also expressed their concerns about inability to express themselves through publications, which, Crowley said, is a violation of human rights.

   The US Congressman felt that the establishment of the Human Rights Commission would help in protecting the minority.

   He, however, praised the steps being taken by the present government to protect the minority communities and hoped that these efforts would further be strengthened.

   On Bangladesh’s political situation, Crowley said he had high respects for Bangladesh as a democracy and Bangladeshi people here and in New York.

   Crowley said it was important for the United States to maintain the relations with Bangladesh, adding that the US wants to help Bangladesh flourish its democracy.

   Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad leaders CR Dutta, Prof Nim Chandra Bhoumik, Kajol Devnath, Swapan Kumar Saha, and Christian Association leaders Nirmal Rojario and Milon Gomej briefed Crowley at Dhakeswari Temple.

   The nayeb-e-ameer of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, Prof Mir Mobasser Ali, briefed him at Ahmadiyya complex at Bakshibazar and Archbishop Paulinus at Kakrail Church.

   Earlier, the US Congressman paid homage to the language martyrs of the country by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Source: www.newagebd.com/front.html#14
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News Today
Dhaka, Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Internet Edition
FRONT PAGE NEWS

Crowley calls for protecting rights of minorities

News Report

   Visiting US Congressman and cochair of Congressional Bangladesh Caucus Joseph Crowley on Tuesday called upon government to take further steps to protect rights and interests of religious communities in Bangladesh.

At present not only in Bangladesh, but all over the world religious tolerance is decreasing, he told newsmen after visiting Dhakeswari Temple, Ahmadiya Complex and St Mary Cathedral in the city.

After arrival in Dhaka on a three-day visit, the US lawmaker Crowley visited three worships where he discussed issues with leaders of three religious minority communities.

Replying to a question from newsmen, he appreciated Bangladesh’s steps and said the essence of democracy is to protect interests of the minority by the majority.

Regarding ban on publican on Ahmadiaya Muslim Jamaat, he gave suggestion for show respect to the freedom of speech and ability to disseminate materials of multiple religious communities in the country.

He termed inability of expressing themselves through publications a violation of human rights.

Asked if the minority leaders expressed concerns to him during meetings with him, he said, “they said some sort of threat they receive from the majority in Bangladesh. But I believe a minority faction within the majority does it which can be tackled.”

He suggested a Human Rights Commission to protect the interests of minority communities.

Appreciating the government’s steps to protect the minority communities, he hoped further steps would be taken to make those effective.

I hope all steps will be taken for protecting the minority community, he added.

Replying to a question on Bangladesh’s political situation, Crowley said he has respects for Bangladesh as a democracy. He said US always wants to help so that the democracy in Bangladesh flourish.

Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad leaders Major Gen (Rtd) CR Dutta, Prof. Nim Chandra Bhoumik, Kajol Devnath, Swapan Kumar Saha, and Christian Association leaders Nirmal Rojario and Milon Gomej briefed Crowley at Dhakeswari Temple.

Nayeb-e-Amir of the Ahmadiya Jamaat Prof. Mir Mobasser Ali briefed him at Ahmadiya complex at Bakshibazar and Archbishop Paulinus at Kakrail Church.

Earlier, US Congressman Joseph Crowley placed floral tributes at Central Shaheed Minar Tuesday afternoon to pay homage to the Language Movement martyrs.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof. SMA Foiz, among others, received him at the Shaheed Minar.

Source: www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=2/22/2006#2596
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