Protests Outside White House Over Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh

Washington DC [US], August 11: A large number of people gathered outside the White House in Washington on Friday to protest against alleged violence targeting minority Hindus and others in Bangladesh. This unrest follows the resignation and departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this week.

Protesters carried American and Bangladeshi flags and held posters demanding the protection of Bangladeshi minorities. They chanted slogans like ‘We want justice’ and called for peace amid the recent surge in violence.

The crowd included activists from various human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, and Indian-American Hindu allies from Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and New York.

Protesters sought the intervention of Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist who assumed leadership of a caretaker administration on Thursday.

Shubho Roy, a Bangladeshi Hindu with family in Bangladesh, expressed his concerns and called for a permanent solution to ensure the dignity and safety of minorities in Bangladesh. ‘We need a permanent solution so that Hindus and other minorities can live with dignity in Bangladesh,’ Roy said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for the ‘safety and protection’ of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh in a message on X on Thursday. ‘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.

Protesters described their demonstration as a desperate appeal from people persecuted thousands of miles away. Priyadarshani Saha, one of the protesters, urged US lawmakers to advocate for Bangladeshi minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and other indigenous groups. ‘The Biden administration has 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 included messages such as ‘End Religious Persecution in Bangladesh’ and ‘Protect Minority Rights,’ with chants demanding justice and international intervention.

Mahendra Sapa from Vishwa Hindu Parishad America stood in solidarity with the Bangladeshi diaspora, urging the State Department and White House to learn from the 1971 genocide and prevent a repeat of such 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 said.

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.’

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have been fleeing to neighboring India to escape the violence. Hindus, who make up about 8 percent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have traditionally supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which has faced backlash following violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month.

Several US leaders, including Republican Congressman Pat Fallon and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, have also spoken out against the alleged violence in Bangladesh.

White House -: The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It is located in Washington, DC.

Hindus -: Hindus are people who follow Hinduism, which is a major religion that started in India. They believe in many gods and goddesses and have various rituals and festivals.

Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, located to the east of India. It has a large population and its capital city is Dhaka.

Sheikh Hasina -: Sheikh Hasina is a political leader in Bangladesh. She has served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh multiple times.

Nobel laureate -: A Nobel laureate is someone who has won a Nobel Prize, which is a very prestigious award given for achievements in fields like peace, literature, and science.

Muhammad Yunus -: Muhammad Yunus is a famous person from Bangladesh who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in helping poor people through microfinance.

US lawmakers -: US lawmakers are people who make laws in the United States. They are part of the government and include members of Congress.

diaspora -: Diaspora refers to people from a particular country who live outside their homeland. For example, the Bangladeshi diaspora includes people from Bangladesh living in other countries.

Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India. He is a political leader and has been in office since 2014.