Prof Barkat accuses Priya Saha of distorting his research findings

Professor Abul Barkat today (Monday) accused Priya Saha of distorting his research findings by her comments during an interaction with US President Donald Trump that 37 million Hindus, Buddhists and Christians have disappeared in Bangladesh.

“I did never say in my research work that some 37 million Hindus, Buddhists and Christians are missing,” Barkat, President of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) and also Professor of Economics in Dhaka University, said in a press statement.

He also called upon Priya Saha to withdraw her statement immediately. “As a social researcher, I want to be sure that Priya Saha will quickly withdraw her statements quoting my name which are confusing and devoid of principle.”

Barkat in his research work said some 1.13 crore (11.3 million) Hindus went missing in the last five decades - 1964-2013 - and there is no similarity with his research findings what Priya Saha conveyed to the US president and a subsequent video message quoting him.

In a video clip that went viral on social media on Friday, that Priya Saha was heard telling Trump: "Sir, I'm from Bangladesh ... 37 million Hindus, Buddhists and Christians are disappeared. Please help us - for the Bangladeshi people. We want to stay in our country."

She also said there are 18 million minority people. "My request is, please help us, we don't want to leave our country, just help us stay. I've lost my home, they've burned my home, they (have) taken away my land, but no judgment (is) yet taken please, please ..."

Later, in a video message, Priya Saha defended her stand by tagging Abul Barkat's research findings.

In the video message, Priya Saha claimed that she was a co-researcher of Barkat and she got the statistics from the research work.

She also claimed that she was inspired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to spread the information of minority oppression in Bangladesh as did by Hasina in 2001 when she was the then opposition leader.

Barkat in the statement rejected her claim saying that she (Priya Saha) was never his co-researcher, research associate or assistant researcher, the Daily Star quotes the statement.

Priya Saha participated in the Second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom held at the US Department of State in Washington, DC on July 16-18.

Delegates from 106 countries, including about 40 Foreign Ministers, attended the meeting at the invitation of Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State.

Kamruzzaman