You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Afghanistan/South Asia
Muslims Being Harassed in Anti-Bangladeshi Campaign
2005-05-24
"Indigenous" Muslims are being harassed in the name of evicting suspected Bangladesh migrant workers from the state, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has said. The outlawed ULFA, fighting for an independent Assamese homeland in Assam, said there were attempts at creating communal clashes in the state while trying to hound suspected Bangladeshi nationals from the region. "There are reports of indigenous Muslims being harassed and troubled by some people in the pretext of driving out illegal infiltrators from the state," ULFA Chairperson Arabinda Rajkhowa said. "There is a serious attempt at creating a religious rift in the state to trigger communal clashes. We appeal to the people of Assam not to allow people with nefarious designs to foment trouble."

The ULFA also accused some political parties of trying to whip up emotions ahead of assembly elections in Assam scheduled early next year. "This is nothing but a pre-election exercise by people with vested interests," the ULFA leader said. Indian intelligence officials say several ULFA leaders operate out of Bangladesh. Dhaka denies the charges. Thousands of people thought to be Bengali-speaking migrant workers have left their workplaces from at least a dozen Assamese towns and cities after an unidentified group distributed leaflets asking them to leave or face action.
Posted by:Fred

#9   TRAIN FROM BANGLADESH

The high point of Census 2001 is confirmation of the phenomenon of mass exodus from Bangladesh

Posted by: john   2005-05-24 16:42  

#8  The Bangladesh population is now smaller than expected, not due to birth control, but rather export to India

UN bares shuddering B’desh population fact

By a Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 18: At a time when the illegal immigration issue is shaking Assam, a startling revelation by a UN-sponsored survey speaks volume of the impact it would have on the demography of the State.

According to the Census of Bangladesh, there was an increase of 10.4 crore in its population during the period 1981-91. But if the earlier growth rate of the neighbouring nation is any indication, the increase should have been 11.8 crore, the UN survey said. This difference of more than 1 crore in the population has surprised many, including the United Nations. According to the survey, during the period from 1981 to 1991, there was an increase of 25.25 per cent in the population in Bangladesh. Of Bangladesh’s total population, 86.6 per cent is Muslims and 12.1 per cent is Hindus.

The rise in Assam’s population over the last 25 years has been alarming. During the period 1971-1991, there was a rise of 53 per cent. Of this, the rise of Hindu population was 41.89 whereas that of Muslim population was a whopping 77.42 per cent.

During the survey, the 64 districts of Bangladesh were divided into five zones. The study was conducted in 21 greater districts.

When looked into the statistics, the increase in population during the period 1981-91 in Dhaka was 31.37 lakhs (31.33 per cent). The increase was 6.58 lakhs (20.56 per cent) in Dinajpur district , 10.24 lakhs (14.10 per cent) in Sylhet, 6.64 lakhs (13.94 per cent) in Faridpur and 15.7 lakhs (27.24 per cent) in Chittagong Hills Tract. The rise in population in some of Assam districts during the same period was more alarming. In Dhubri it was 56.57 per cent, 54.12 per cent in Goalpara, 65.72 per cent in Kamrup, 51.26 per cent in Nagaon, 50.90 per cent in Morigaon, 38.76 per cent in Sivasagar and 33.10 per cent in Jorhat.
Posted by: john   2005-05-24 16:34  

#7  Thousands of Bangladeshi migrants flee Assam

Over the years, >STRONG>hundreds of thousands of illegal Bangladeshi migrants have swamped the tea-growing and oil-rich state in search for work and food.

Over two years ago, the government estimated there could be up to 20 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India, and labelled some of them a security risk.

"Every day around 6,000 illegal infiltrators cross the border and enter the state," said an intelligence official in Guwahati, the state's main city.



Posted by: john   2005-05-24 16:32  

#6  Might be able to fit them in next to Kyrgyzstan, if they're willing to give up one of their vowels...
Posted by: Fred   2005-05-24 16:13  

#5  ...fighting for an independent Assamese homeland in Assam...

Good place for it, I'd say. We're a little short of map space right now, though. Maybe next year.
Posted by: mojo   2005-05-24 12:45  

#4  Whenever I see "indigenous" in a news story, I just know somebody's gonna be whining...
Posted by: tu3031   2005-05-24 12:22  

#3  The Koran has a few notable omissions:
1. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
2. "As you sow, so shall you reap."
3. Anything that has anything to do with cause and effect.
Posted by: RWV   2005-05-24 11:52  

#2  Great pic - it sums up my thoughts exactly.

Except the violin should be a lot smaller.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-05-24 11:20  

#1  Ironically the ULFA was originally formed because they wanted an independent Assam that would kick out all the Bangladeshis and other recent arrivals, but in the decades since, their leaders have taken up residence inside Bangladesh and now they talk about solidarity with the poor Muslims against the Indian state.
Posted by: Paul Moloney   2005-05-24 04:20  

00:00