Boycott Bangladesh. For the past two to three days, Siliguri has been plastered with such posters. Many have put up posters in areas adjacent to the junction calling for stopping all kinds of business with Bangladeshi citizens. Now hotel owners are no longer willing to accommodate Bangladeshis in hotels. However, they will not push them out forcibly, but will request them with folded hands to return to their country. Many Bangladeshis are staying in various hotels in Siliguri for education and medical treatment.
As a result, concerns have now arisen about their accommodation. There are more than 180 hotels under the association in Siliguri. Until a few years ago, Bangladeshi citizens mainly stayed in hotels in the bus stand area. This was because buses from Bangladesh's Panchagarh district would come and stop in the Mallaguri area.
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Currently, this trend has changed. Coming through the Fulbari border, they stay in various hotels on Hill Cart Road and Bidhan Road in Siliguri's Hashmichak area. Citizens of the neighboring country preferred to stay in areas where private nursing homes are located. Earlier, an average of 25-30 thousand people from Bangladesh used to come to Siliguri. But after unrest began in that country, the number has come down to 1500 to 2000. Many believe that some Bangladeshis have remained in the city for medical treatment or studies.
Hoteliers cite humanitarian concerns
Sandip Mahato, a resident of Kuli Para in Siliguri's Ward No. 1, said, "A Bangladeshi Hindu youth has been murdered solely for the crime of being a minority. Besides this, minority people in that country are being selectively attacked. We do not want any relationship with such a country that is against humanity." Ujjwal Ghosh, Joint Secretary of the Greater Siliguri Hoteliers Welfare Association, said, "From a humanitarian perspective, we do not want to stoop to their level.
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They are openly murdering people. But we cannot be the cause of harm to any human being. We cannot forcibly evict Bangladeshi citizens who are already staying in city hotels for education and medical treatment. Rather, we will request them to return to their own country as soon as possible."
