Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Tuesday again raised his voice against the violence and persecution Hindus and other religious minorities are facing in Bangladesh and urged colleagues to act now to protect them as the “world is watching.”
During his address in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, he spoke about the escalating violence against minorities following Sheikh Hasina‘s departure as Prime Minister in August 2024.
He emphasised the significant increase in attacks on Hindus after Sheikh Hasina left office. ” I rise to out against the violence and persecution of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. During Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, an estimated 300,000 to three million people were killed, mostly Hindus. Hindus in Bangladesh continue to be targeted today—with their homes and businesses being destroyed, and their temples vandalised,” he said.
“Since the ousting of the former Prime Minister Hasina last August, these attacks have increased again, with over 2,000 incidents reported in August alone. I have engaged with the State Department and called for action in upcoming Senate confirmation hearings, but we must do more. I urge my colleagues to act now to protect Bangladesh’s religious minorities. The world is watching, and we cannot let history repeat itself,” he added.
The turmoil began when authorities charged Chinmoy Krishna Das with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Following his arrest on November 25, demonstrations erupted, leading to violent confrontations between his supporters and police outside the Chattogram Court Building on November 27, resulting in a lawyer’s death.The situation deteriorated as authorities made more arrests.
ISKCON Kolkata reported that authorities detained two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, on November 29 after they visited Chinmoy Krishna Das in detention. The organisation’s Vice President, Radha Raman, stated that during the disturbances, vandals damaged an ISKCON centre in Bangladesh.
Raja Krishnamoorthi brings up violence against Bangladeshi Hindus at US House floor | World News – Times of India
