TON Research Section

It is claimed that Sikhism first emerged in Bengal when Guru Nanak visited Bangladesh in 1504 and established several Gurdwaras. Gurdwara Nanak Shahi is the principal Sikh Gurdwara (prayer hall) in Dhaka. Bangladesh does not have any significant Sikh population. Most of the Sikhs in the country are officials of the Indian High Commission, Businessmen, or pilgrims. According to the 2011 census, there were only 23000 Sikhs in Bangladesh. There were eighteen historical Gurdwaras in Bangladesh. The relations of Sikhs with the Bengalies are remarkable and quite tangible.

According to reports, the main Gurdwara was built in 1830, during the East India Company by the Britishers. In the adjacent buildings, which then housed the Langar-Khana (community kitchen and place for free distribution of food) and Musafir-Khana ( rest-house for guests/pilgrims) probably the Gurdwara was also built during the same time, as evident from the same architectural pattern. For decades, a few of the Sikhs living in Bangladesh without any fear or any disruption by most locals.

In 2019 India announced the CAA bill provided opportunity to Sikh and Hindus living in Bangladesh to regularize their migration in India, although they are living peacefully in Bangladesh. According to the International Monetary Fund, Bangladesh's per capita GDP was likely to expand by 4% in 2020 to $1,888, while in the case of India, it was expected to fall by 10.5% to $1,877. The GDP number for both countries was at current prices. On the other hand, Amit Shah stated that" the poor in Bangladesh "go hungry," but figures say otherwise. On the contarary to the Amit Shah’s claim India ranks 94 among 107 nations in Global Hunger Index 2020 below Bangladesh which is at ranks 75 and falls under the serious category. One wonders if they are living peacefully, then why India has offered Indian nationality to Sikhs, which may in the future graded as dual nationality?

Sikhs Farmers are protesting in New Delhi for four months, but the government did not respond to the demand of the Sikhs farmers but on the other hand, according to the CAA bill, they want to Sikh community to acquire Indian nationality. The ambiguous behavior of India leads to logical debate. Britain is also helping India to focus work on Sikhs card to change the demography of Bangladesh. According to Britain House, there are 5 lac Sikhs are living in the UK and contributing to the British economy. Prince Charles of Wales Visited at Bangla Sahib in 2019 and showed his concern towards the Sikh community. Prince was overwhelmed seeing Langar getting prepared at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The wants to become closer to the Sikhs to established Sikhs diaspora in different communities to change the culture and demography under the flag of Diversity.

Bangladesh has two schools teaching the Punjabi language. The schools are being constructed by Sampardai Kar Sewa, Sarhali, a religious organization. The religious organization supported by the Indian Punjab Government. Stealthy, they are penetrating in the culture of Bengalis. This religious organization had already set up a Sikh Research Centre (SRC) at Gurdwara Nanakshahi with Dhaka University professor Nirol Kazi as its head. If we analyze history, India played the same strategy during the separation of East Pakistan. Not all but some of the teacher brainwash the people and spread feelings of hatred against each other. It is an established fact that India is playing a dual rule regarding Sikhs diaspora.

The CAA bill amends India's 64-year-old citizenship law, which currently prohibits illegal migrants from becoming Indian citizens. However, it is a false conspiracy against the Bengalis. This bill also expedites the path to Indian citizenship for members of six religious minority communities - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian - if they can prove that they are from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh. Why India focus on these three countries? They gave citizenship and train the diaspora, especially Sikhs for Bangladesh, Hindu for Pakistan, and Buddhist claiming to be from Afghanistan. After the training, they will sent back and change the entire culture and tradition.