As Bangladesh gears up for elections amid a wave of minority-targeted violence, a worldwide coalition of Hindu and interfaith groups is pressing world leaders for swift action. Reports of daily assaults on Hindus have ignited international outrage.
Led by the Hindus Advancing Human Rights Initiative (HAHRI), a HinduPACT project, the alliance’s open letter – backed by 125+ entities across 15 nations – exposes a disturbing cycle of killings, intimidation, and property seizures aimed at Hindus.
‘Bangladesh Hindus are native inhabitants with UN-protected rights to life and culture free from discrimination. Instead, they endure a chronic humanitarian emergency fueled by unpunished crimes,’ declared HAHRI’s Rahul Sur.
Harrowing cases cited include the brutal lynching of Deepu Chandra Das in December 2024 under a fabricated blasphemy charge, captured in a widely shared video. Temples lie in ruins, homes are ransacked, and blasphemy laws serve as weapons against the vulnerable.
From August to late November 2024, minorities suffered 2,673 documented attacks post-regime change. The Hindu population has plummeted from 22% in 1951 to below 7%, with 230,000 emigrating yearly – a trend the coalition labels religious genocide.
HinduPACT’s Ajay Shah warned of deeper implications: ‘These figures paint a horror story. When violence shrinks a minority in a democracy, it exposes systemic breakdowns meant to prevent such outcomes.’
Specific demands target the US: send investigators, levy trade sanctions, grant asylum, scrutinize UN missions. The EU faces calls for tariffs and probes; the UN, for condemnation and inquiries.
Public action surges – protests in 25+ American cities, a global petition to UN human rights officials. ‘Petitions, rallies, and submissions prove this transcends policy; it’s a citizen-led cry for equal rights enforcement,’ Sur affirmed.
This issue echoes in UN documents, US legislative debates, and diplomatic channels where India and America advocate for Bangladesh minorities, signaling a pivotal moment for international accountability.