Hindu group urges US action over violence against minorities in Bangladesh

Washington DC: A Hindu advocacy group has warned that the condition of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh has sharply deteriorated in recent months, urging the US Congress and administration to respond more forcefully to what it described as escalating violence and persecution.

Speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition at the US Capitol, Utsav Chakrabarty of HinduAction said the organisation was working to “sensitize the members of Congress and the staffers” about the situation of Hindus in South Asia, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, through immersive exhibits, films, and direct engagement with lawmakers.

Chakrabarty said Hindus in Pakistan, who make up “barely one and a half percent of the population,” are “the natives of the land, the indigenous community for thousands of years,” yet today face abductions, forced conversions, and trafficking. He said Hindu Action was highlighting these issues while also documenting the experiences of Hindu refugees from Pakistan who have fled to India.

“We have people here who are working with the refugees in India, as well as with the Hindus in Pakistan, trying to rescue underage Hindu girls who are often kidnapped and forcibly converted and trafficked,” he said, describing the Capitol event as a “comprehensive experience” designed to brief policymakers.

Turning to Bangladesh, Chakrabarty recalled that the country emerged from Pakistan in 1971 and said that “about 2.8 million Hindus were murdered in Bangladesh in just a span of 10 months by the Pakistani army and the allied radical Islamist from Jamat Islami.” He warned that the situation had again worsened over the past year and a half, following political changes in the country.

“Over the last one and a half years, we have seen that Jamat Islami in Bangladesh has gained a lot of power,” he said, adding that the group was “in a good position to probably win the elections in a couple of weeks in February.” According to Chakrabarty, after the recent regime change, “the plight of Hindus has deteriorated significantly, almost on a daily basis”. (IANS)

Also Read: Khalistani & Bangladesh-based outfits may target Delhi: Sources