"The minority Hindus are now safe in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina took over as the Prime Minister of the country. She has taken safety and security measures for the Hindus who constitute only eight per cent of the population," Roy said during a discussion last night on his book, 'Ja Chhilo Amar Desh' (What my country used to be).
"But, still a sense of insecurity prevails despite taking measures," Roy said.
Roy said the minority population in Bangladesh including
Buddhists, Christians and Hindus, was earlier around 29 per cent, which has now reduced to 8 per cent.
Roy's ancestral house was in a village at Brahmanbaria district of present Bangladesh, about 40 km from here.
He said the rights of minorities were persecuted even after Bangladesh was liberated in 1971, since a pro-Pakistan government ruled the country for years after the brutal assassination of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibar Rahaman.
"Truth must prevail and that was the reason behind searching out the untold stories of torture, which many people are not aware about. I know, by hushing up the truth and reality, no good can be delivered.
"But nobody should think that I am against friendship with Bangladesh. We speak the same language and share same culture and we need to strengthen our friendship with that country," Roy said.
"More than 10,000 Hindus were killed on May 20, 1971 when the Pakistani Army opened fire at Hindus and later Razakars (Collaborators) joined the Pak Army and butchered them," he said.
"Only 1,500 people died in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Punjab, but many people do not know that 10,000 people died in Chuknagar," the Governor added.
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