The Delhi Study Group (DSG), a prominent NGO, organized a protest meeting to condemn the ongoing religious persecution and violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. The protest aimed to shed light on the severe human rights violations, including forced conversions and attacks on Hindu temples, which have escalated following the political upheaval in Bangladesh.
Addressing the protest were several key figures, including Alok Kumar, International President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji, Founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti and World Peace Center, and M. Nageswara Rao, Former Director of the CBI (IPS, Retd.). The event was presided over by Dr. Vijay Jolly, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and President of the Delhi Study Group, with DSG women’s leader Ritu Rathaur compering the program.
The protest was sparked by the rise in religious persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, which intensified after the political coup in August 2024. The elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee Dhaka, and caretaker Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus assumed power. Since then, violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, has surged across several cities, especially after the Durga Puja celebrations. Reports of vandalized pandals, arson, and looting have become rampant.
The situation has worsened with the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagaran Jote, raising further concerns over the safety of minority voices in Bangladesh.
Participants at the protest expressed outrage over the violence, forced conversions, desecration of Hindu temples and deities, and unchecked hate crimes. The rally also highlighted the broader issues of discrimination and persecution faced by Hindus and other minorities, which severely hinder their freedom and security.
The protest acknowledged the support from international leaders such as US President-elect Donald Trump, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who have condemned the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
The protestors called on the Bangladesh government to take immediate action to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, and uphold their fundamental rights to freedom of speech, dignity, and life. The event emphasized the need for greater protection and justice for the minority communities in Bangladesh, and for an open dialogue between the Bangladesh government and international organizations working towards peace and human rights.
