An organisation of north Bengal Muslims with considerable clout in the community has demanded that a newly constituted board for the socio-economic development of Nasya Sheikhs be converted into the one for all Muslims in the region.

The Mamata Banerjee government had constituted the West Bengal Nasya Sheikh Development Board through a notification on February 22. The Nasya Sheikhs or Rajbanshi Muslims number around 35 lakh in north Bengal.

Abul Hossain, the secretary of the Uttarbanga Anagrasar Muslim Sangram Samiti, said the Nasya Sheikh board wouldn’t benefit the entire Muslim community which belongs to different sub-castes.

“Hence, we want the state government to change the board’s name and convert it into one for all backward Muslims in north Bengal,” said Hossain.

Karimul Islam, another leader of the samiti, said there were 110-odd sub-castes of Muslims in north Bengal. “If the board’s mandate and purpose are amended, it can work for all Muslims. We have been raising the demand for long,” he said.

The demand that has been raised ahead of the Assembly elections is being seen as an attempt to mount pressure on Mamata Banerjee and her party.

The demand has drawn flak from members of the Nasya Sheikh board. “The state government has constituted the board for our community. Some people are trying to politicise the issue ahead of the elections. They have never spoken for us,” said Bazlay Rehman, a member of the board.

Altogether, around one crore Muslims, including 35 lakh Nasya Sheikhs, live in north Bengal.

“One of the key topics of discussion among political pundits is Muslims who account for around 30 per cent of total voters in the state. New forces like the ISF and the AIMIM are foraying into the political arena of Bengal and changing equations. In such a context, the new demand will mount pressure on Trinamul,” said an observer.

He noted that the model code of conduct was in force and the state government couldn’t meet the demand till the elections got over. Trinamul leaders are, however, confident that the minority community in north Bengal would not join hands with any other party.

“We have communicated the demand for a socio-economic development board for all Muslims in north Bengal to our senior leaders. We are confident that the minority community will stand by Trinamul across north Bengal,” said Dablu Mohammad, the Jalpaiguri district coordinator Trinamul’s minority cell.