Bhatkal residents remit over ₹1,000 crore from Gulf, it helps in local development: Rabita Society

Bhatkal: 20 August 2025 (Bhatkallys News Bureau) The Bhatkal Muslim Khaleej Council (BMKC), also known as Rabita Society, highlighted the significant role of Gulf remittances in the town’s development during a friendly gathering held at the historic Maulana Bungalow. Addressing the audience, BMKC General Secretary Ateequr Rahman Muniri said that over 5,000 Bhatkali residents working and doing business in the Gulf send more than ₹1,000 crore back home every year, contributing substantially to Bhatkal’s prosperity.

Muniri recalled that nearly five decades ago, residents migrated to Gulf countries seeking livelihoods and formed Jamaats to stay connected. These efforts laid the foundation for BMKC in 1991, a vision initiated by the late community leader S.M. Syed Khaleelur Rahman. The council was later registered locally as Rabita Society. He emphasized that the organization has consistently worked to foster Hindu-Muslim harmony in the town. Muniri added that while the annual get-together had traditionally been held every year, it is being revived this year after an eight-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. He urged the youth to actively promote peace, social cohesion, and brotherhood.

The programme began with a recitation of the Qur’an and its Kannada translation. M.R. Manvi, local journalist and President of the Bhatkal Working Journalists’ Association, spoke about the services provided by Rabita Society. Yunus Kazia, president of the educational organization Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen and owner of Maulana Bungalow, along with Inayatullah Shabandri, president of Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, raised various public concerns to the officials. Shabandri also criticised certain sections of outside media for misrepresenting the Muslim community, while commending local journalists for fair reporting, noting that Muslims and non-Muslims in Bhatkal have lived in peace for decades.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada, Sajid Mulla, who was the chief guest, praised Rabita Society for its work. He acknowledged the Nawayath community’s talents but pointed out their underrepresentation in government services, encouraging youth to consider such careers to serve society better. Bhatkal in-charge Assistant Commissioner Kavya Rani, District Forest Officer Yogesh, Rural Police Inspector Manjunath Lingareddy, and social worker Rajesh Nayak also spoke at the event, lauding the efforts of the council and the unity among the town’s residents.

Dr. Savita Kamath, Administrative Officer of Bhatkal Government Hospital, raised concerns about the limited interaction between Hindu and Muslim children due to separate schools and societies, and criticised certain media outlets for spreading negative narratives that could harm communal harmony. Dr. Suresh Nayak, Chairman of Bhatkal Education Trust, spoke about his long association with the Muslim community, highlighting the achievements of Nawayath girls in higher education and suggesting that Rabita Society develop programs to better utilize their skills for societal benefit.

Congress leader Bina Vaidya, daughter of District In-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya, appreciated the communal harmony in Bhatkal while warning that some forces were trying to disrupt it. She noted that the unity among the town’s residents has resisted such divisive attempts and assured that the issues raised would be brought to her father’s attention.

The event was presided over by Rabita Society President Umar Farooq Musbah, and convener Qamar Sada delivered the vote of thanks. Leaders from Gulf-based Jamaats, social activists, government officials, panchayat members, and representatives from educational institutions attended, collectively praising Rabita Society’s role in promoting unity and social progress in Bhatkal.