Washington, D.C. (January 12, 2007) - The Hindu American Foundation expressed distress and concern at the declaration of a state of emergency in Bangladesh on January 11, effectively postponing general elections that were scheduled to be held January 22, 2007.
“The increasing violence, accusations of partisanship, voter-list fraud, and now the state of emergency do not bode well for the sustenance of democracy in Bangladesh and to the security and well-being of its minorities, especially the nearly 14 million Hindus”, said Dr. Aseem Shukla, Member, Board of Directors, Hindu American Foundation.
Since the declaration of emergency rule effects army control of law and order, and imposes restrictions on the media, world leaders have expressed fears of further destabilization of democratic rule in Bangladesh. “Unless and until there is a cessation of the pandering to extremist and fundamentalist Islamic forces, democratic governance and rule of law are compromised”, said Ramesh Rao, Executive Council Member, Hindu American Foundation. “Let us hope that the two major political parties – the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party – will sit together and sort out differences, and promise to the world community a secular, multi-party, democratic governance in Bangladesh that will assure its minorities safety, security, and equal treatment under the law.”