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

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

  1. ↑ "Minority leader named as Diplomat". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  2. ↑ "Minority bodies announce weeklong demo seeking election deferment". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  3. ↑ "Be united to keep Bangladesh-India friendship unharmed: Abdur Razzak | News". BSS. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  4. ↑ "Bangladesh sending investigators to Nepal". TIMES OF ASSAM. 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  5. ↑ "Representative of minorities in EC sought". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  6. ↑ 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 2022-03-29.
  7. ↑ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 468". archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  8. 1 2 Correspondent, Court (2007-09-19). "Prof Neem sent to jail on surrender". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  9. ↑ "DU teachers and students observe Black Day". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-08-23. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  10. 1 2 3 "Neem Bhowmik new envoy to Nepal". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  11. ↑ Correspondent, Court (2008-03-19). "4 DU students appeal against conviction". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  12. ↑ Staff Correspondent (2010-07-22). "20 receive Mother Teresa Gold Medal". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Nepal wants Bangladesh envoy recalled". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  14. ↑ Correspondent, Diplomatic (2011-07-19). "Probe body to check allegations". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  15. ↑ Karim, Rezaul (2012-06-30). "Major changes in foreign office". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  16. ↑ Pintu, Rafiqul Islam. "Dr NC Bhowmik president, Rana Dasgupta secretary | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
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