Our Politics of Dispossession- part 1

Naeem Mohaiemen

Amdadul Huq/ Driknews

When talking about human rights, complacent analysis comforts us with nostalgic notions like: "Bangalis have always been egalitarian/secular/(insert favourite value)." But in the context of life in a subcontinent with too many people fighting for too few resources, legal infrastructure is far more important than attitudes and social norms.

Within this context, there are certain laws that stubbornly stay in place. In some cases, this is because political parties consider them to be useful future tools (Special Powers Act). In other cases, it is because questions of patriotism and security are considered off limits to debate (anti-terrorism laws).

Then we come to a special case like the Vested or Enemy Property Act (VPA/EPA), which is always criticised in public forums, yet stays on the books because so many powerful forces have benefited from institutionalised land-grabbing from Hindu citizens.

When confronted with the continuing decline of Bangladesh's Hindu population, many respond that it is a "question of loyalty." In this sinister rhetoric, Hindus are leaving because they fail to integrate themselves with a "Bangladeshi" citizenship concept. This helps foster an attitude of permanent "outsider" status for the nation's minority communities, further weakening the Bangladeshi state's commitment to diversity.

What is largely missing in this discussion is quantitative analysis of the economic condition of the Hindu community, particularly in the context of VPA. Economist Professor Abul Barakat of Dhaka University has been looking at this area of analysis since the 1990s. Barakat and a large team of researchers have been applying the methods and tools of economic, statistics and survey research to compile the most comprehensive picture of Hindu community status since independence of Bangladesh, especially as it has been impacted by the black law known as Enemy Property Act, later Vested Property Act.

This work started with a 1997 book, Political Economy of Vested Property Act in Rural Bangladesh, and continued through the 2000 book An Inquiry into Causes and Consequences of Deprivation of Hindu Minorities in Bangladesh through the Vested Property Act. These two in-depth studies generated a national debate and resulted in the repeal of the Vested Property Act and passing of the Vested Property Repeal (Return) Act of 2001.

Shafiq Islam/ Driknews

Thus, we consider the most significant development in 2008 in the area of minority rights was the publication of Professor Barakat's new book, which is the result of a mammoth, multi-year study looking at the impact of VPA on Hindu property from 1965-2007. This study resulted in the February publication of Living With Vested Property. Professor Barakat was instrumental in the insertion of references to this issue in the Awami League's election manifesto. In view of the likely future legal, economic, political and social impact of his research, an in-depth look is required.

Source: Daily star, Forum