By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Some Muslim intellectuals of West Bengal have jointly sent a letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina urging her not to send to India a controversial Bangladesh writer – who is known for his blasphemous writings – as Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, India because such appointment will be against the public interest and against the interest of Government of Bangladesh.
“From several reliable sources we came to know that the Govt of Bangladesh is considering writer Salam Azad as possible candidate for the post of deputy High Commissioner to India,” the letter says.
“Bangladesh is a sovereign country, and we being citizen of a different country have no say in its matter of recruitment of able candidates for any governmental post. However we would like to bring in your kind notice some information regarding Salam Azad. He in his numerous writings has brought several blasphemous charges against the savior of humanity Muhammad Sallalah Ho Alaiho Sallam. Being Muslims these views are totally unacceptable. “Vanga Matt” Salam Azad’s book that was published from Kolkata is full of false accusation, slander, defamation against the Holy Prophet of Islam,” the signatories to the letter said.
They include Dr Usman Ghani, ex-HoD, Islamic History, Calcutta University, Mohd Shahidullah, Retd Principal, Ali Ahmed Raza College, Ahmed Hasan Imran, General Secretary, Muslim Council of Bengal, Abdur Rauf, editor, Chaturanga, Taha Sididqi Peerzada, Phurphura Shareef, Shah Alam, General Secretary, Amanat Foundation and Md Qamruzzaman, All Bengal Minority Youth Federation.
In his other books like “Chukti Uttar prabatta Chatagram”, “Shasti bahini o Shanti Chukti”, “Ethnic Cleansing”, “Bangladeshe Bippono Sonkha loghu”, “Why Hindus left Bangladesh”. He claims minorities of Bangladesh has gone through unspeakable torture, injustice, ethnic cleansing, execution by the hands of military and citizens alike. Unbiased sources clarify these charges are baseless, the letter reads.
These types of writing may cause serious disruption to the ongoing dialogue between Indian & Bangladesh.
“We know your beloved and globally respected father the late Mujibur Rahaman was named “Banga Bandhu” or friend of Bengal. Like him you have high regard for communal tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Mujibur Rahman wished to deliver humanitarian message of Islam in English and Bengali through the “Islamic Foundation”.
“From the above discussion it is clear that appointing Salam Azad as deputy high commissioner is against the public interest and against the interest of Govt of Bangladesh.”
“Hope you will kindly reconsider the appointment and take appropriate measures respectively. May Bangladesh reach new heights under your leadership.”