News Desk

The Desh-Bondhu Remittance Juddah Shonshod (Parliament), a pro-Bangladeshi organisation working across nearly 192 countries worldwide, has issued a strong call for global unity among expatriate Bangladeshis to protect the country’s democracy, economy, human rights, and national sovereignty.

In a statement released by the organisation, its leaders said the primary objective of Desh-Bondhu Remittance Juddah Shonshod is to counter what they describe as the long-standing dominance of vested political interests that, according to them, have exploited national resources and suppressed the legitimate rights of the Bangladeshi people under successive autocratic regimes over the past 54 years.

Allegations of Authoritarianism and Human Rights Violations

The organisation alleged that the last government’s continued retention of power for a third term pushed Bangladesh toward a de facto one-party state, increasing alignment with authoritarian forces and isolating the country from the democratic world. According to their statement, this period witnessed widespread human rights violations, including killings, enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and the silencing of dissent.

They further claimed that state institutions—including law enforcement agencies, sections of the judiciary, civil administration, and elements of the security forces—were politicised and used to protect the interests of what they termed an “illegitimate power structure.” The organisation cited incidents such as alleged killings of religious scholars, students, and political opponents, as well as large-scale financial irregularities involving banks, insurance companies, capital markets, and the electoral system.

Claims of Massive Financial Outflows

Referring to reports by international financial watchdogs and global media, the organisation claimed that more than USD 234 billion was allegedly transferred out of Bangladesh to offshore destinations over the years. They also alleged that many former ministers and members of parliament amassed enormous personal wealth during this period.

The organisation further cited international democracy assessment bodies, alleging that Bangladesh had been classified as a digitally controlled authoritarian state due to systematic misuse of power and technology.

Historical Perspective and Foreign Influence Claims

Desh-Bondhu Remittance Juddah Shonshod also presented a historical narrative, asserting that Bangladesh has faced deep-rooted external conspiracies since the early twentieth century. The organisation alleged that regional geopolitical interference—particularly from neighbouring India—has repeatedly undermined Bangladesh’s political independence, economic stability, and territorial integrity.

They referenced historical events such as the Bengal Partition of 1905, the Lahore Resolution of 1940, the political developments leading to 1971, and post-independence regional dynamics as part of what they described as a long-term pattern of external influence.

Liberation War and National Sacrifice

Highlighting the Liberation War of 1971, the organisation stated that Bangladesh’s independence was achieved through a mass people’s struggle, involving immense sacrifice by millions of martyrs, victims of violence, and intellectuals. They emphasised that safeguarding the spirit of that struggle remains a moral obligation for all Bangladeshis, both at home and abroad.

Role of Remittance Workers

The organisation placed particular emphasis on the role of remittance workers, describing them as the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy and the primary source of foreign currency earnings. According to the statement, remittance workers deserve meaningful representation in national policymaking processes and mainstream political engagement.

Desh-Bondhu Remittance Juddah Shonshod stated that it is committed to mobilising expatriate Bangladeshis to resist corruption, protect democratic values, and defend national sovereignty through peaceful, organised, and lawful means.

Organisational Leadership

The organisation announced that remittance workers worldwide have united under the leadership of:

Advocate ANM Essa, Founder and Convener, Central Committee

M. A. Rouf (Qatar), General Secretary

Mr. Faruk Ahmed Choudhury, Senior Vice President and Convener (Europe)

Musaddique Hussain Manik Miah, Convener (United Kingdom)

The organisation expressed hope that coordinated global engagement by Bangladeshi expatriates would contribute to a democratic, sovereign, and prosperous Bangladesh for future generations.