Anti-Hindu Violence in Bangladesh Raised by Rep. Krishnamoorthi with Secretary of State

August 10 :
In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed worry over the increasing anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh. In light of the dramatic uptick in violence against Hindu communities in Bangladesh following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of Muhammad Yunus as interim PM, the congressman has demanded swift action from the United States.

Using information from prominent news sites and human rights organizations, Rep. Krishnamoorthi voiced her deep concern about the situation, noting that violence had spread throughout numerous districts. Reuters and the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) report that in the past several days, assaults against Hindu houses, places of worship, and businesses have occurred in 45 out of 64 districts. Sixty people have been slain in the violence, and hundreds more have fled to India, according to the New York Times.

Krishnamoorthi demanded that Secretary Blinken stop the violence and punish those responsible for it by contacting Prime Minister Yunus's administration personally. Clearly, the United States and its allies do not want religious intolerance and violence to cause instability in this region, the congressman said, calling for immediate and strong action.

Violent attacks against Hindus have occurred in Bangladesh before. The October 2021 riots, which killed nine people and destroyed extensive property, and the 2017 violence, which killed 107 Hindus and went missing 37 more, were both mentioned in the letter. Another devastating era of anti-Hindu violence was the 2013 riots that followed the war crimes conviction of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Sayeedi.

Sharing the Congressman's letter on X, the Hindu American Foundation has repeated Krishnamoorthi's worries and increased the demand for American intervention to safeguard religious minority in Bangladesh and bring those responsible for these assaults to trial.