Protests in London Highlight Concerns for Hindus in Bangladesh

A demonstration organised by the Hindu community in London against the recent killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh was interrupted by a group of Khalistani supporters outside the Bangladesh High Commission. The protest took place on Saturday, drawing attention to the ongoing plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, who are reportedly facing increasing violence and persecution.

The protesters were reacting to the lynchings of Dipu Chandra Das and Amrit Mondal, two individuals whose deaths have heightened fears among the Hindu population in Bangladesh. Many in the community have expressed a desperate need for assistance from India, urging the government to open its borders to those seeking refuge from what they describe as Islamist mob violence.

Concerns were further amplified following a show of support for Tarique Rahman, a prominent leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who is often viewed as a hardliner. The situation is particularly dire in regions such as Rangpur, Chittagong, Dhaka, and Mymensingh, where Hindus have been communicating their plight via WhatsApp calls facilitated by Nihar Haldar, a leader of the exiled Bangladesh Sanatan Jagran Mancha.

The effects of this unrest are being felt in refugee communities in India, particularly in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, where Hindu immigrants from the former East Pakistan were settled. Dr Subodh Biswas, president of the Nikhil Bangla Samanbay Samiti, an organisation representing former East Pakistan refugees, voiced frustration over the perceived inaction of Hindu organisations in India. He stated, "Why don't Hindu organisations get proactive? India is the only country where Hindus of Bangladesh can bank upon during a crisis. More Hindus will be killed, but borders remain shut. We plan to stage protests at the border."

Another activist from the Sanatan Jagran Mancha, who wished to remain anonymous, lamented, "There are 2.5 crore Hindus in Bangladesh. It's not a small number. Hindu organisations in India are doing nothing more than lip service. We are staring at a holocaust."

Residents from Mymensingh have shared their fears about the ongoing violence, noting that opening the Indian borders could provide a crucial escape route for those facing persecution. One local remarked, "We are living the worst nightmare. Opening the Indian borders will at least create an escape route for those facing persecution."

Many Hindus in Bangladesh live in precarious conditions, struggling to make ends meet, including families like that of Dipu Chandra Das. The exchange of accusations between India and Bangladesh has intensified in recent weeks, culminating in a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs, which condemned the "unremitting hostility" faced by minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.

The Ministry expressed grave concern over the recent killing of a Hindu youth and called for those responsible to be brought to justice. When questioned about Tarique Rahman's return to Dhaka after 17 years, the Indian government underscored the need for free, fair, and inclusive parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, framing the situation within a broader context of regional stability and minority rights.