Neem Chandra Bhowmik
Neem Chandra Bhowmik is a professor in the Department of Applied Physics at the University of Dhaka and a leader of the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh.[1][2] He is the former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal with a controversial term.[3][4] He is the president of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.[5]
Career
[edit]Bhowmik was the general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council in 1996.[6]
Bhowmik signed a statement condemning the alleged harassment of Indian diplomat Sarbajit Chakraborti's wife Rupa Chakraborti by Bashundhara Group chairman, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and his staff.[7]
In September 2007, Bangladesh Army personnel stationed at University of Dhaka and students of the university got into violent clashes with each other.[8] Bhowmik was then the chairperson of the Applied Physics Department of the University of Dhaka. He was detained by Bangladesh Police on charges on instigating the students.[8][9]
On 22 July 2009, the Awami League government appointed Bhowmik Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal.[10] He was also the president of Bangladesh Muktijodha Foundation and Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.[10] He was serving as the general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.[10] In March 2008, a court found him innocent of all charges.[11]
In July 2010, Bhowmik was awarded the Mother Teresa Gold Medal.[12]
In July 2011, Nepal informed Bangladesh using informal channels that they wished for the withdrawal of Bhowmik from Nepal.[13] According to a report of the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh, Bhowmik was implicated in a number of irregularities.[13] He had behaved and acted unprofessionally and violated diplomatic norms.[13] He was found being involved in internal politics of Nepal. The report also mentioned Bhowmik had taken kickbacks from Nepali students for providing them with scholarships from the government of Bangladesh.[13] He was accused of stalking and harassing Manisha Koirala, a Nepali film actress.[13] The report notes he was accused of harassing Mrs Apoorva Srivastava, a spokeswoman of the Indian Embassy in Nepal.[13] He drove around Indian Army General J. F. R. Jacob in Nepal in an official embassy car while flying the Indian flag and at a Mujibnagar, the first government of Bangladesh, anniversary day event he called for the playing of anthems of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.[13] The First Secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal, Nasreen Jahan Lipi, had made official complaints to Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dipu Moni, in 2010.[13] He was also accused of harassing numerous women and having unprofessional relations with Bangladesh and Nepali women on embassy premises.[13] The government established an investigation committee to look into the allegations of the report.[14] Next year the government issued an order to not extend the term of Bhowmik as ambassador ending his ambassadorship.[15]
In January 2022, Bhowmik was elected president of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Minority leader named as Diplomat". ModernGhana. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Minority bodies announce weeklong demo seeking election deferment". UNB. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Be united to keep Bangladesh-India friendship unharmed: Abdur Razzak | News". BSS. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Bangladesh sending investigators to Nepal". Times of Assam. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Representative of minorities in EC sought". New Age. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Bangladesh: Information on the Bangladesh, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Unity Council (Bangladesh, Hindu, Buddhist Christian Oihya Parishad); on the name of the general secretary; and on whether the organization issues membership letters to individuals who have left the country". Refworld. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 468". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Prof Neem sent to jail on surrender". The Daily Star. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "DU teachers and students observe Black Day". Dhaka Tribune. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ a b c "Neem Bhowmik new envoy to Nepal". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 29 March 2022. [dead link]
- ^ "4 DU students appeal against conviction". The Daily Star. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "20 receive Mother Teresa Gold Medal". The Daily Star. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Nepal wants Bangladesh envoy recalled". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 29 March 2022. [dead link]
- ^ "Probe body to check allegations". The Daily Star. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ Karim, Rezaul (30 June 2012). "Major changes in foreign office". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ Pintu, Rafiqul Islam. "Dr NC Bhowmik president, Rana Dasgupta secretary". The Asian Age. Retrieved 29 March 2022.