NEW DELHI: A US lawmaker has called on Bangladesh’s interim government to fulfill its duty to safeguard the Hindu minority following the departure of Sheikh Hasina’s democratically elected administration earlier this year.
“Bangladesh’s interim government has a clear obligation to protect its Hindu minority and address the protests of thousands of Hindus who are outraged by recent attacks and harassment,” said US Congressman Brad Sherman in a statement, according to news agency PTI.
Sherman highlighted demands for an investigation by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, into killings and human rights violations linked to the violent unrest before and after Sheikh Hasina’s departure. “The current administration must show leadership by taking decisive action to end violence against the Hindu community,” he added.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sherman expressed his dismay: “The Bangladesh government must protect all citizens, especially its Hindu minority, from violence. I am outraged by recent attacks on the Hindu community and urge Bangladesh’s government to act swiftly to stop anti-Hindu violence.”
Over the weekend, members of Bangladesh’s Hindu community gathered near the White House, calling for the release of Chinmaya Das and demanding increased security for Hindus in Bangladesh.
Utsav Chakrabarti, executive director of HinduACTion, also called on the Biden-Harris administration to take all necessary measures to prevent radical Islamist violence against Bangladeshi Hindus. “Reports from Bangladesh indicate that Hindu monk and civil rights defender Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari, who is currently in custody, faces a serious threat to his life,” Chakrabarti warned.
