bangladeshi refugees

8/7/2019 Bangladeshi Refugees

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To All Delegates Attending

Parallel Session on



Bangladeshi Refugees inIndia During the Age of

Globalization:

A Human Rights

Approach



Who are Refugees?In common usage a refugee is an :

Illegal Migrant,

Non-national,

Migrants,

Semi-nations,

Undocumented

Asylum Seekers

Miscellaneous terms in various references

UNHCR Convention (1951)

³A refugee is a person who is outside her country of origin andgenuinely risks serious human rights abuses because of who she is

or what she believes. She cannot or will not return because hergovernment cannot or will not protect her«.´



What are their rights?

Protection against discrimination

Freedom of religious

Work rights

Housing, education and relief operations

Protection against penalties for illegal entry

Freedom of Movement

For Comprehensive List of Articles ( 1 to 46) UNHCR

Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees,1951,

www.unhcr.org



The Objectives of the Paper are to examine :

Complex Character of Globalization in the context of India that remains

the largest economic laboratory in South Asia.

The nature of skilled and semi skilled workers of transnational

character and criteria for global economy.

Role of Human Right Agencies to promote multifaceted socio-ethnic

relations and the protection of hyper national identity. India¶s much acclaimed liberal democratic traditions and the rights of

citizenship

Role of global agencies, and associated human right bodies to frame

transnational policies, sanctions, admissions, treaties and status.

The character of critical demographic data.

Vote Banking and religious status of Hindu vs Muslim refugees in India

Role of NGOs and academic bodies to project the true image of refugees

Agreement and disagreement between dialogue of globalization and

ethno-cultural diversities to admit/accept Bangladeshis in India.

India¶s image in UN including the world public opinion



Towards the Theories of Migration

Theory one :

Unwanted (non productive force -Palestinians inIsrael )

Rejected ±socially boycotted like Bih

aris inBangladesh

Theory two :

Mandate ( loosely documented like Afghanis,Burmese, Iranians, Somalis, Sudanese and others in

India)

Non-Mandate ( Undocumented Like Bangladeshis,Tibetans, Sri Lankan, & others)



Refugees ± A Brief History

Two Nation Theory

1947: Partition andindependence

Hindus as minorities,left after 1947

1971 Pak armycampaigned to crush

th

e nationalistMovement

1971: Biharis in Indiacollaborated Pak armyagainst India

India during Colonial Phase:

Atlas shows Pakistan and

Bangladesh (East Pakistan) as part

of Indian continent

Post-Independent India



December 1971 total 825 Refugee camps & 9.8 million refugeesin different parts of India

-



Refugee- A Brief History

1973-74 UN Relief Operation in Dhaka &Karachi

1975 : Assassination of Sheik hMuziburrehman(Hindus were forced toLeave country-communal flare)

1975-1986 : Influx of Chakma Refugees inIndia

1992 :Babri Mosquedemolition

9/11 :Episode



Classification of Bangladeshi

Refugees in IndiaBuddhists (Chakma,Marma,K heyang,and Chak)-Geographically Boycotted

Reference : The Statesman (New Delhi), 27 July 2002

Tictures in Assam s

The Picture shows the

pathetic story of Chakmas

at Assam (left one) while the

right one shows an untraced

Bangladeshi beggar in

Assam, the North East

Province of India



Other Categories Hindus (Tipara)- Religiously boycotted

Christians (Bawm, Pank hua, and Lushei)-Bible Fellowship Missions (North East India)

Muslims (Bengalis) Economically boycotted Animism (Mro, Tanchangya, Reang, and

K humi)

Non-identified tribal groups

Reference : Ross Mallick, Development, Ethnicity and Human Rights in South Asia (NewDelhi), Sage publications, 1998), table 6.4, P.181.



Intensification andcomplexity of irregular migrations in South Asia

No proper institute or study centres in theIndian Universities/NGO

Conferences &Workshops (Astha Bharti,a leading initiative )

Refugee Studies: An Emerging Interest of International Relations



REFUGEE STUDIES IN INDIA Centre for Refugee Studies, Jadavapur University, Kolkata

Center for South Asian Studies, JNU, New Delhi

Centre for Diaspora Studies, Hyderabad Central University

REFUGEE STUDIES INBANGLADESH

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Dhaka Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs, Dhaka

Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka.



Human Right Organisations & NGOsin India

National Human Rights Commission

Indian Institute of Human Rights, New Delhi

Social Legal Information Cell, New Delhi

South Asia Peace Forum, New Delhi Association for the Protection of Domestic Rights, Mumbai

Human Right Organisation & NGOs in Bangladesh

BangladeshHuman Rights Bureau Refugees and Migration Unit, Dhaka.

Inter Religious Unit for Peace

BangladeshAssociation for UNHCR (Eminent Persons Group )



Refugees (Nature of Work) & Globalisation Bangladeshi men work as Snake-charmers, Rickshaw

pullers, rag pickers, borers, bidi makers, snake charmers,cobblers, barbers, etc. women work as maids or domestic

Servants in middle-class Indian households in hardshipunhygienic conditions and even wonder in search of foodand shelter. Cases of prostitutions, natural disasters andneglected children are frequently reported (as picturesshown below )



Refugees and Social Relationship

Globalization also support:

Enjoyment of common language culture and lifestyle (With Bengalis)

Share cultural norms with Indian Muslim communities.

Common Food Habits,

Multilingual culture

Kinship Bonds (Marriage sindhurs ,bindis, sarees, rituals,

traditional dresses, etc) Intermixing behaviors (worship, caste, race, Language)

Shelter in slum areas (Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi)



Role of Transborder Dalals (Brokers)Enjoyment of common language culture and lifestyle

Dalals in Bangladesh and India ± recruit µmanpower¶ agencies, touts,brokers, travel agents, etc with political support.

Indian documents like passports, voters ID, and ration-cards are easily

available to minimize th

e risks of detentionActivities like smuggling and drug trafficking with support of refugeeswork well.

Indian Documents like passports, voters ID, and ration-cards are easily

available to minimize the risks of detention

Activates on Porous Border- An Easy Asset as shown below :



Vote Banking & Political Parties Religion & Cross Border

Migration associatedwithMuslim BangladeshiRefugees

Hindu Refuges support to

BJP¶s Hindutva andHindus Rashtra (Nation)

O peration Push Back plan ( 1992)Political Division inCongress. Congress upsetwith BJP¶s Anti MuslimIdeology

Earlier leaders like VPSingh, HKL Bhagat,

sympath

isers with

MuslimBangladeshis



Opinions of Bangladeshis in India

³We are not Bangladeshis. We have all proofs of being Indians.

All our relatives are in Delhi and Calcutta« VP Singh promised

us to give ID Cards, saying we are Indians´ Quoted from

Navhind Times (Goa), 8 Feb.2003,p.7

³I am being forced to go. I am the only one from my family who is

being send away. My two kinds and wife are still here´

Quoted from EPW (Mumbai), 38(7),Feb.2003,pp.641-42

What Opposition Leaders Say ?

´Congress government depends on illegal Bangladesh

is for winningelections´

Quoted from P.Singh, ÛIndiaÙs Border management

ChallengesÜ Dialogue ( Delhi), 18(2),Oct.Dec. 2006, p.95



Stand of Nationalist BJP Describes as invisible silent invasion and demographic aggression

Conduct of Nationwide survey.

Highlight their in context on political controversies.

Stringent action against Refugees Crossing over Indian Border

No compromise withMuslim refugees

Easy way to enter in India as shown in picture



Outcomes

The Anti Muslim sentiments in India promote Anti-Hindu Sentiments in

in Bangladesh (11 % Hindu population).

Higher cases of deportation against Muslims.

Modus Operandi of µ Action Plan¶ for identification, detection and

deportation presents controversies.

Undermines peace process

BSF Role questioned

Merciless killings of BSF Personnel (Indian) by Local Bangladeshis is

frequently reported (as one picture shown below-extreme left ±first one

while second and third slides show the BSF on Duty



Problems Countered & Measures cross border movements of illegal migrants ( 15

million since 1971).

Militant Activities like ULFA,BODO on rise

Counter Killings of BSF and BDR - a routine exercise.

Various Legislations in India

Illegal Migration Determination by Tribunals

Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

Mobile Task Force National Security System



Does Globalisation accept Restriction over Refugees ?

(Some positive arguments )

In colonial sense, Bangladesh is a part of India.

India-the largest economic laboratory in South Asia.

India as a responsible member of Global Community.

Issue of Dual Nationality currently demanding.

Border management-no more a serious problems, thanks to ITrevolution.

Acquiring Voters ID Cards, driving license, ration cards etc areassets for the politicians.

phrases like µdocumented¶, µirregular¶ and µillegal¶ now

documented and accepted terminologies. Migration industry a crucial to new economic flow in South Asia.



PEACE INITIATIVES

1971: Independence of Bangladesh : Shaik hMujib¶s policy of peace for Bangladeshi Minorities

1972 : Shanti Lama,CHT Chief proposed for ParbattiyaChittagram Jana Sangh Samiti-PCJSS (Chittagram Hill Peoples¶Association.

1986 : Amnesty International Peace Proposal for Refugees 1993 : International Conference : ³Chakma in New Partnership.

1994 : Tripura based Humanity Protection Forum with PCJSS.

June 1999 : Kolkata Lahore Bus Yatra (Journey)

May 2003:Women for Dhaka Peace Trips (Journey

October 2003: US Plan to Start Asian University forWomen inDhaka

21 March 2006 Delhi Dhaka Steps to Build Trust



FINDINGS

Right to live with Dignity access to Uniform

Treatment.

NGOs need to work as Independent Bodies.

Initiative for partnership with international NGOs.Immediate implementation of National Migration

Policy with support of National Human Rights

Commission.

Better Management through creative partnership with

local bodies.

Incentives for essential commodities.

Funding operations in refugee camps.



Conclusions Representations of Refugees at wider scale by allmeans.

No case of harassment and arbitrary prosecution be

allowed.

Freedom for family reunification, ch

oice to optcitizenship to promote integration into larger community.

People to people initiatives to monitor the political

development.

Incentives for greater democratization for effective

communication policy.Hold responsible for officials about any misgiving.

Both India and Bangladesh need to work with UNHCR

to offer better possibilities of resettlements.



By

Dr. Badar Uddin

Reader in Political SciencePES College of Arts & Science

( Goa University )

Farmagudi, Ponda ± 403 401Goa, INDIA

E-Mail: [email protected]