On Friday, a crowd demonstrated outside the White House in Washington, protesting the alleged violence against minority Hindus and others in Bangladesh following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure earlier in the week. The protesters waved American and Bangladeshi flags, held signs urging Bangladeshi minorities to be “saved”. They chanted, “We want justice,” and called for peace amid the recent escalation of violence.
The crowd, comprising activists from human rights organisations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, and Indian-American Hindu supporters, travelled from Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. They called for the intervention of Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist who took charge of the caretaker administration on Thursday.
Shubho Roy, a Bangladeshi Hindu with relatives in Bangladesh, voiced his concern about the situation and urged for a lasting resolution to safeguard the dignity and safety of minorities in the country.
“We need a permanent solution so that Hindus and other minorities can live with dignity in Bangladesh,” Roy told ANI.
He underscored the suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh who had fled their country after years of systemic violence, discrimination, and oppression. Now, standing before a symbol of American power, they were calling on the world to acknowledge the atrocities they had escaped.
“We were pushed away from Mahabharat (India), Akhil Bharat, Akhand Bharat. We were never a part of Pakistan. We were framed and pushed away from India,” Roy added.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a message on X calling for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Protesters described their demonstration as a urgent plea from those suffering persecution, thousands of miles away. Priyadarshani Saha, one of the participants, called on US lawmakers to support Bangladeshi minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and other indigenous groups.
“The Biden administration had the ability to make a difference, to influence the Bangladeshi interim government, and to pressure the international community to take action,” Saha said.
Signs at the protest displayed messages like “End Religious Persecution in Bangladesh” and “Protect Minority Rights,” while the crowd chanted for justice and called for international intervention.
Mahendra Sapa from Vishwa Hindu Parishad America expressed solidarity with the Bangladeshi diaspora, urging the State Department and White House to heed the lessons of the 1971 genocide and work to prevent a recurrence of similar atrocities.
“We strongly urge the State Department and White House to have lessons learned from the 1971 genocide and make sure that those mistakes are not repeated,” Sapa told ANI.
“The office of the United Nations Secretary-General has said the violence in Bangladesh should be “tamped down”, adding it stands against any “racially based attacks” or “racially based incitement to violence,” he added.
Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have been seeking refuge in India to escape the violence. Hindus, constituting around 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have historically supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which has faced criticism following recent violent confrontations between anti-quota protesters and security forces. Several US leaders, including Republican Congressman Pat Fallon and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, have also condemned the violence in Bangladesh.