| Hindu Republic of Bangabhumi | |
|---|---|
| Hindu Prajātantrī Baṅgabhūmi | |
| Leader | Kalidas Baidya (1973–2006) |
| Dates of operation | 1973–2006 |
| Active regions | India |
| Ideology | Hindu nationalism Separatism |
| Allies |  India (denied by India) |
| Opponents |  Bangladesh Pakistan |
| Wars | Bangabhumi Insurgency |
| Flag | .svg) |
Bangabhumi (meaning the land ofVanga) was an organisation that aimed to create aBengali Hindu country forBangladeshi Hindus in southwesternBangladesh, envisioned by theBanga Sena (English:Vanga Army), aseparatist[1]Hindu organisation.[2] The group was led by Kalidas Baidya.[1]
The movement was founded in 1973 inIndia soon after theindependence of Bangladesh to support the Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, who were targeted by thePakistan Army in the1971 Bangladesh atrocities. However, this movement did not receive much support at that time. In an interview withBBC News in 2001,Chittaranjan Sutar, one of the alleged organisers of the movement, denied supporting the creation of a new nation.[3] As of 2025, both groups seem to have gone defunct. Unrelated movements with the same name popped up inWest Bengal and neighboring states in India. However, no proposal gained much traction.[4]
| Banga Sena | |
|---|---|
| Leader | KalidasBaidya |
| Motives | The creation of a separateHindu state comprisingBangladesh |
| Active regions | Bangladesh |
| Ideology | Hindu nationalism Bengali Hindunationalism Separatism Communalism |
| Major actions | Insurgent activities against Bangladesh. |
Major GeneralJahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Director General of theBangladesh Rifles (BDR), in a talk with the Director General of theBorder Security Force (BSF) Ajay Raj Sharma in 2004 said that the extremist group Banga Sena was carrying outterrorist andsecessionist activities against Bangladesh from its bases in the Indian state ofWest Bengal.[5] Khodeza Begum in an article in theGlobal Politician accusedIndia of helping to organize the Banga Sena.[6]
In March 2006, a senior official of the home ministry of Bangladesh expressed concern over the anti-Bangladesh activities by the Banga Sena. Regarding this he added that Bangladesh wants a peaceful border with neighboring India and the situation has vastly improved following coordinated border patrolling by both countries.[7] A Bangladeshi official stated that the organization is a "threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh".[8]
More than 400 members of the Banga Sena were arrested in India on 18 February 2003, for trying to cross over into Bangladesh from the district ofNorth 24 Parganas in southern West Bengal. According to police sources, activists belonging to the organization began gathering at the Indo-Bangladesh border at Halencha, North 24 Parganas in the jurisdiction of the Bagda police station since morning that day.[2]
In January 2004, the director general of the Bangladesh Rifles gave a list of the camps of the remaining Shanti Bahni elements in theNorth-East Indian states ofTripura andAssam and in adjoining Indian provinces to the director general of the Border Security Force. The list documented that the Banga Sena, along with several other groups, carried out communal tension and separatist activities against Bangladesh from West Bengal. Indian Foreign Secretary said that India will cooperate in tackling the Banga Sena and otherinsurgent groups.[9] In September 2007, the representatives of twoNGOs, Diphu Citizen Peace Forum and KarbiHuman Rights Watch, in theKarbi Anglong District of Assam said that the Banga Sena was involved inextortion and it could pose a threat to the peace in the region.[10]
Regarding the activities of the Banga Sena, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury made it clear that his country will not tolerate any statement or move against its territory or sovereignty.[11] The All India Minority Forum, an organization for religious minorities in India, also expressed concern over this organization.[12]
The official noted that the issue of security concern remained with Bangladesh too in the wake of anti-Bangladesh campaign by Banga Sena and Swadhin Bangabhumi Andolon, which also poses 'threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh'.reprinted in:"The Bangladesh Observer, Dhaka 15-3-2006".Selections from Regional Press.XXV (5):31–32. 2006.ISSN 0254-7996.