Assam's Barak Valley hotels boycott Bangladeshi guests over minority attacks

Hotels in Barak Valley, Assam, have declared that they will no longer host Bangladeshi nationals until attacks on Hindus and other minorities in the neighboring country cease. This boycott spans across the three districts of Cachar, Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj), and Hailakandi, which share a 129-km-long border with Bangladesh’s Sylhet region.

Barak Valley Hotel and Restaurant Association president Babul Rai announced the decision on Friday, emphasizing that it was a protest against the deteriorating conditions of minorities in Bangladesh. “The situation of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh is concerning. We cannot accept this in any way. We have decided to stop hosting nationals from that country until the atrocities on Hindus stop,” Rai told reporters.

The association clarified that the ban is temporary and will be lifted once the situation in Bangladesh improves. "The people of Bangladesh must ensure stability in their country. Only then can we reconsider this decision," Rai added.

The move follows a similar action by the Sribhumi District Hotel Association, which imposed a ban on Bangladeshi nationals earlier this week. They cited incidents of religious persecution and the recent arrest of ISKCON member Chinmoy Krishna Das as key triggers for their protest.

The decision has garnered widespread support across the Barak Valley, where protests have been ongoing against alleged atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh. Demonstrators in the region are demanding justice for Hindu minorities and an end to religious violence.

The developments come amidst escalating communal tensions in Bangladesh, where reports of violence and harassment against Hindus have drawn international attention. Local leaders in Barak Valley see the ban as a powerful symbolic protest to urge action and accountability from the Bangladeshi government.