Two influential Indian-American lawmakers have demanded an immediate cessation of the ongoing brutal violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh following the departure of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
The Congressmen also called on Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the prime minister-designate of the interim government, to ensure that the rule of law is upheld as he takes control of the interim administration.
These statements from the two prominent lawmakers were made just a day after several Hindu American groups engaged with State Department officials in response to the rising violence against the Hindu minority and the destruction of Hindu temples in Bangladesh.
In a post on X, Congressman Ro Khanna stated, “Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. It’s good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence.”
The lawmakers also criticized the failure of Congress and the administration to acknowledge and condemn the violence against Hindus and other religious minorities, labeling it as unacceptable.
Since Monday, when Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India, several Hindu temples, homes, and businesses have been vandalized, and at least two Hindu leaders associated with Hasina’s Awami League party were killed in the violence.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi emphasized the need for action, saying, “As Bangladesh prepares to swear in its interim government, I urge all government officials, the new administration and police chief, and the people of Bangladesh to do all they can to end the violence that has emerged across the country, including the brutal targeting of the country’s Hindu minority, their homes, businesses, and their temples.” He added that the violence must end, and those responsible must be held accountable to help Bangladesh move forward as a nation. Krishnamoorthi also stated that he would continue to closely monitor the developments in Bangladesh in coordination with the US State Department.
On Wednesday, key figures such as Anita Joshi, Director of Policy Research at the Hindu American Foundation, Utsav Chakrabarti of HinduAction, Priya Saha, Executive Director of Human Rights Collective for Bangladesh Minorities, and geopolitical analyst Jay Kansara met with the US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussein, at the US State Department in Washington, DC.
The group urged the US government to take action and briefed Ambassador Hussein on the violence targeting Hindus and other religious minorities throughout Bangladesh. They shared documented incidents of violence against Hindus and the desecration of Hindu temples within 48 hours after Hasina’s departure amidst civil unrest.
Joshi criticized the lack of acknowledgment from Congress and the administration regarding the violence, stating, “The failure of Congress and this administration to acknowledge and condemn the violence against Hindus and other religious minorities is unacceptable.”
She also highlighted the urgency of the situation in Bangladesh, saying, “The situation on the ground in Bangladesh is urgent and dire. We implore the State Department to use its clout and resources to put an end to this rampant violence against religious minorities, violence rooted in decades of mistrust and maltreatment of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority.”
In a separate statement, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) called on the US President, the State Department, the IRF Ambassador, and presidential candidates to take immediate action to ensure peace is reestablished in Bangladesh and that minorities are protected to prevent another potential Hindu genocide. FIIDS also urged the United Nations to deploy observers and peacekeeping forces to manage the situation in Bangladesh and ensure the protection of vulnerable communities.
Similar appeals were made to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Since Sheikh Hasina fled the country on Monday, media reports from Bangladesh have indicated a surge in violence against minorities, including significant vandalism and destruction at the residence of popular folk band Joler Gaan’s frontman Rahul Ananda on Monday, forcing the singer and his family into hiding.
The violence, however, has not been limited to the Hindu community. At least 232 people have been killed in Bangladesh since the fall of the Hasina government on Monday, bringing the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests began in mid-July.
Meanwhile, upon his arrival in Dhaka from Paris on Thursday, Yunus pledged to establish a government that assures the safety of its citizens. He is expected to take his oath later in the evening.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the US expressed its deep concern about the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, including attacks on members of religious and political groups. A spokesperson from the State Department emphasized the importance of the new government conducting credible investigations into all instances of violence and ensuring justice for the victims. “We are deeply concerned about continued reports of violence in Bangladesh – including violence directed at members of religious or political groups. We are equally concerned about reports of violence against police and law enforcement,” the spokesperson said.