Released on = June 25, 2007, 11:23 am

Press Release Author = Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM)

Industry = Law

Press Release Summary = HRCBM filed a writ petition at Calcutta High Court on June
19th, 2007 appealing that Government of India should grant Refugee status to
Bangladesh Minorities, who took shelter in India to escape violence in their country
.

Press Release Body = Santa Clara, California, June 22nd, 2007 - HRCBM announce today
that it has filed a writ before the Calcutta High Court for consideration of
granting and declaring Bangladesh Minorities, who took shelter in India to escape
violence in their home country, as "refugees".
The writ petition No WP11718w/2007 dated June 19th, 2007 called for Honorable
Calcutta High Court comprising chief justice S.S. Nirjhar and Justice Deba Prasad
Sengupta at court 1 to issue order calling upon the Government of India and the
state Government of West Bengal respectively as to why Bangladesh Minorities who are
currently residing in India escaping violence at their home country cannot be
declared as "Refugees".
The petition was moved by HRCBM's Advocate, Mr. Jasobanta Rakshit and the chapter
head of HRCBM-West Bengal, Mr. Subash Chakrabarty.
A Court notice has already been served to both the Government of India and the state
Government of West Bengal.
The honorable Calcutta High Court will convene on this matter soon after the receipt
of formal response of the respondents to appear before the court.
The date of formal proceedings will be announced by HRCBM soon after notification
from the honorable high court.
Minorities of Bangladesh are subject to state sponsored discrimination and religious
hate crime targeted against them in Bangladesh. Since 1971, millions of Bangladesh
minorities have taken shelter to various Indian states, whose existence in the
country is often denied by government of India. As a result, millions of refugees
who escaped Bangladesh and continued till date are deprived of their rights under
International law. Their plights are often ignored by the International community as
well.
This public benefit litigation is expected to draw attention to the plights of
millions of these refugees and bring to light the obligation of UN and Governments
of both India and Bangladesh.
Earlier in 2006, HRCBM had filed a public benefit litigation at High Court division
of Bangladesh Supreme Court requesting it's intervention for the protection of
Bangladesh minorities. Although honorable Bangladesh High court ordered rule nisi on
Government of Bangladesh, justice is yet to be served. It is to be noted that
Bangladesh Government ignored the order of country's high court denying justice to
thousands of country's minorities.
- - - - -

Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) is a human rights and
humanitarian organization dedicated to uphold rights of Bangladesh minorities.

# # #

Email :
Phone : 212-592-3627
Fax : 215-434-6804
Address : P.O. Box 5493
City/Town : Santa Clara
State/Province : California
Zip : CA 95056
Country : United States


Web Site = http://www.hrcbm.org

Contact Details = Email : info@hrcbm.org
Phone : 212-592-3627
Fax : 215-434-6804
Address : P.O. Box 5493
City/Town : Santa Clara
State/Province : California
Zip : CA 95056
Country : United States