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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name = Hindu Republic of Bangabhumi
| native_name = হিন্দু প্রজাতন্ত্রী বঙ্গভূমি (''Hindu Prajātantrī Baṅgabhūmi'')
| native_name_lang = bn
| war =
| image =
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt =
|status=
|caption=.
|active=1973-2006
|governing period=
|ideology= [[Hindu nationalism]]<br />[[Separatism]]
|leader = Kalidas Baidya & Dhirendra Nath Paul {{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
|clans=
|area=
|size=
|strength=
|partof=
|previous=
|next=
|opponents= [[People's Republic of Bangladesh]]
|battles=
}}
'''Bangabhumi''' ({{lang-bn|বঙ্গভূমি}}, meaning the land of [[Vanga Kingdom|Vanga]], also spelt '''Bongobhumi''') also known as '''Bir Bongo''' ({{lang-bn|বীর বঙ্গ}}),{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} is a separatist movement to create a [[Bengali Hindu]] country for Bangladeshi Hindus in southwestern [[Bangladesh]], envisioned by Banga Sena. Banga Sena ({{lang-en|Vanga Army}}) is a [[Separatism|separatist]]<ref name=TELEGRAPH>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040107/asp/nation/story_2760337.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203195122/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040107/asp/nation/story_2760337.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |title=Dhaka seeks proof, Delhi readies maps |author=Seema Guha |date=7 January 2004 |access-date=30 June 2008 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref> [[Hinduism|Hindu]] organization which advocates formation of a Bangabhumi for [[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Bengali Hindus]] in Bangladesh.<ref name=INDIAINFO>{{cite web |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2003/02/18/18held.html |title=400 Banga Sena activists held at Bangla border |date=18 February 2003 |access-date=30 June 2008 |publisher=Indiainfo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904233910/http://news.indiainfo.com/2003/02/18/18held.html |archive-date=4 September 2008}}</ref> The group is led by Kalidas Baidya.<ref name=TELEGRAPH/>

The movement was founded in 1973 in [[India]] soon after the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|independence of Bangladesh]] to support the Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, who were targeted by the [[Pakistan Army]] in the [[1971 Bangladesh atrocities]]. However, this movement did not receive much support at that time. In an interview with [[BBC News]] in 2001, [[Chittaranjan Sutar]], one of the alleged organisers of the movement, denied supporting the creation of a new nation.<ref name="bbc2001">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1725254.stm Bangladesh alleges 'separatist plot'], BBC, 22 December 2001</ref>

==Banga Sena==
{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Banga Sena
|logo =
|caption =
|leader = Kalidas
Baidya

|motives = The creation of a separate [[Hinduism|Hindu]] state comprising [[Bangladesh]], [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]], and other parts of [[Northeast India]]
|area = [[Bangladesh]]
| native_name =
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| foundation =
| dates = 
| dissolved =
| merger =
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| predecessor =
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| country =
| allegiance =
| headquarters =
| newspaper =
| ideology = [[Hindu Nationalism]], [[Separatism]], [[Communalism (South Asia)|Communalism]]
| position =
| crimes = Insurgent activities against Bangladesh.
| attacks =
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}}
Major General [[Jahangir Alam Chowdhury]], the Director General of the [[Bangladesh Rifles]] (BDR), in a talk with the Director General of the [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) Ajay Raj Sharma in 2004 said that the extremist group Banga Sena was carrying out [[Terrorism|terrorist]] and [[secession]]ist activities against Bangladesh from its bases in the Indian state of [[West Bengal]].<ref name=DAILYSTARBDRBSFABC>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/01/11/d40111011212.htm |title=BDR, BSF agree to bust camps |author=Pallab Bhattacharya |date=11 January 2004 |access-date=30 June 2008 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref> Khodeza Begum in an article in the ''[[Global Politician]]'' accused [[India]] of helping to organize the Banga Sena.<ref name=GLOBALPOLITICIAN>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalpolitician.com/21944-india |title=Indian move to establish United India through United Bengal |date=14 July 2006 |author=Khodeza Begum |access-date=30 June 2008 |publisher=[[Global Politician]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530171251/http://globalpolitician.com/21944-india |archive-date=30 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref name=DAILYSTARKMMINE>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/03/15/d60315060170.htm |title=Khaleda-Manmohan meet on March 21 to initiate new era |date=15 March 2006 |access-date=30 June 2008 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref> A Bangladeshi official stated that the organization is a "threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh".<ref name=KIVBBL>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsnetwork-bd.com/UI/Public/NewsDetail.php?LogID=11409 |title=Khaleda's India visit to boost bilateral ties |date=15 March 2006 |access-date=30 June 2008}}{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref>

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 of [[North 24 Parganas district|North 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.<ref name=INDIAINFO/>

In January 2004, the director general of the Bangladesh Rifles gave a list of the camps of the remaining Shanti Bahni elements in the [[North-East India]]n states of [[Tripura]] and [[Assam]] 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 other [[Insurgency|insurgent]] groups.<ref name=IHTABI>{{cite web |url=http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidType=NAT&hidRecord=0000000000000000003363 |title=India to help tackle anti-Bangladesh insurgents |date=12 March 2004 |access-date=30 June 2008}}</ref> In September 2007, the representatives of two [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]], Diphu Citizen Peace Forum and Karbi Human Rights Watch, in the [[Karbi Anglong District]] of Assam said that the Banga Sena was involved in [[extortion]] and it could pose a threat to the peace in the region.<ref name=ONEINDIAMOBILE>{{cite web |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/09/03/organisations-appeal-for-public-support-for-peace-in-karbi-anglong-1188821209.html |title=Organisations appeal for public support for peace in Karbi Anglong |date=3 September 2007 |access-date=30 June 2008 |publisher=[[Oneindia Mobile]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ashraf |first=Nazmul |date=21 February 2003 |title=Bangladesh ready to evacuate citizens from Middle East |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/bangladesh-ready-to-evacuate-citizens-from-middle-east-1.347945 |newspaper=Gulf News |access-date=30 June 2008}}</ref> The All India Minority Forum, an organization for religious minorities in India, also expressed concern over this organization.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minority forum flays PM's remarks on Ayodhya |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/38298464.cms |date=22 February 2003 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=30 June 2008}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bengali Hindus]]
* [[Hinduism in Bangladesh]]
* [[List of Hindu nationalist political parties]]
* [[Bangladesh–India relations]]
* [[Hindu Mahasabha]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hindu Nationalism}}

[[Category:Hinduism in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related controversies]]
[[Category:Politics of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Hindu organisations based in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Hindu political parties in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Secessionist organizations in Asia]]
[[Category:Militant Hindu groups]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–India relations]]
[[Category:Separatism in Bangladesh]]

Bangabhumi - Revision history

WikiDwarf at 23:40, 15 July 2023