Information on the activities since 1960 of the Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee (Ejaz), particularly in relation to the Liaquatab refugee camp in Khulna could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, the following information on the Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee (SPGRC) of Bangladesh may be of interest.

At the time of the partition of the sub-continent in 1947, Muslims from India's Bihar state moved to then East Pakistan (AFP 17 Sept. 1996; IPS 24 Mar. 1988). When East Pakistan separated and became Bangladesh, war broke out: India supported Bangladesh and the Biharis supported Pakistan (AFP 17 Sept. 1996). Bangladesh dubbed these Biharis "collaborators" (IPS 24 Mar. 1988).

The majority of these Biharis have refused Bangladeshi citizenship (DPA 14 Aug. 1994; AFP 28 Apr. 1995; IPS 24 Mar. 1988) and are in a difficult situation as neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan recognizes them as its citizens (AFP 17 Sept. 1996; IPS 29 Sept. 1995).

According to sources, roughly a quarter of a million Biharis remained unrepatriated and were living in "66 squalid camps in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh" since 1971 (Reuters 19 Dec. 1994; DPA 14 Aug. 1994; The Guardian 11 Aug. 1992). However, according to a 17 September 1996 AFP report, these unrepatriated Biharis were living in only 20 camps throughout Bangladesh. The majority of Biharis lived in camps in Dhaka, Rangpur Chittagong and Saidpur (IPS 10 May 1988).

The Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee (SPGRC) was founded by (Mohammad) Nasim Khan and represents these Bangladeshi Biharis (IPS 10 May 1988). He is also its leader (The Guardian 11 Aug. 1992; Radio Bangladesh 4 Jan. 1993; DPA 10 July 1995;). Syed Ahmed is the SPGRC secretary (The Guardian 11 Aug. 1992) and Shaukat Ali another SPGRC leader (Xinhua 14 Aug. 1992). More recently, a 16 January 1998 Voice of America (VOA) report refers to a Mohammad 'Naeem' Khan as "a spokesman" for the SPGRC, while a 16 January 1998 article in the Pakistani-daily newspaper Dawn refers to M. Nasim Khan as SPGRC's "chief patron."

According to a March 1988 report, at "Camp Geneva" in Mohammedpur area, Dhaka, the SPGRC through its central office looked after the affairs of the 18,000 Biharis camp residents, ran the camp medical clinic, published a monthly newsletter, and ran a school (IPS 24 Mar. 1988).

The SPGRC was involved in a number of activities, including the following: In March 1988, SPGRC leaders notified Islamabad of their intention to hold demonstrations and marches, go on hunger strikes, and self-immolate (IPS 24 Mar. 1988). In August 1994 it organized a demonstration of more than 2,000 Biharis who were prevented by police from marching to the Pakistan embassy (DPA 14 Aug. 1994). In December 1994 SPGRC leader Khan apparently considered "urging" his followers to immolate themselves unless a schedule for repatriation was issued by the end of the year (Reuters 19 Dec. 1994). In April 1995 the Biharis threatened "self-immolation" unless they were repatriated, and Khan stated that "we will take do-or-die action" (AFP 28 Apr. 1995). On 23 April 1995 over 500 Bihari men, women and children went on a hunger strike (DPA 23 Apr. 1995). On 10 July 1995 the SPGRC led a 50-Bihari man hunger-strike in front of Dhaka's national press club (ibid. 10 July 1995). More recently, on 20 July 1997 Khan, the SPGRC "chief," led a demonstration of hundreds of Biharis who "threatened to kill themselves" (Daily News 21 July 1997). In mid-January 1998 the Khan-led SPGRC appealed yet again to Bangladesh and Pakistan to repatriate the remaining Biharis in Bangladesh (Dawn 16 Jan. 1998).

The SPGRC has also suffered from infighting, as can be seen below:

A 23 May 1993 Reuters report states that some Biharis accused Khan of fraud and theft, charges he denied. The "dissidents, led by Ezaj Ahmed" were chased away by Khan's followers when they attempted to hold a protest meeting in one of Dhaka's Bihari camps. Fighting broke out between both groups of Biharis, resulting in injures to some 50 people (ibid.).

According to a 17 September 1996 AFP report, the SPGRC "is now deeply divided" into two factions. Mohammad Nasim Khan continues to lead one of the factions with Mohammad Ehtasham as his secretary, while the other faction is led by Jabed Qureshi (ibid.).

According to a 21 July 1997 report from the Colombo-daily newspaper Daily News, "a section of Biharis, apparently frustrated by the long delay over repatriation, have already revolted against Khan, and set up a rival faction of the SPGRC, headed by Ezaj Ahmed." In November 1997, members of the SPGRC faction led by Ejaj Ahmed Siddiqui were prevented by police from assembling near the Secretariat but were able to gather near the office of the City Corporations, where they were to begin a "fast unto death" (The Daily Star 21 Nov. 1997).

Further information on the various SPGRC factions could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

For additional information on the Biharis, please consult Response to Information Request BGD23489.E of 2 April 1996, which is available at all Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 17 September 1996. Sohel Manzur. "Stranded Bangladesh Biharis Left in Limbo." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 April 1995. "Stranded Biharis in Bangladesh Threaten Self-Immolation." (NEXIS)
Daily News [Colombo]. 21 July 1997. "Bangladesh Biharis Demand Return to Pakistan." [Internet] http://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/1997/07/21/for01.html

[Accessed 6 Mar. 1998]