On Monday, during the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, thousands gathered in Washington, D.C., for the “March Against Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh.”
Organized by StopHinduGenocide.org, Bangladeshi Diaspora organizations and HinduACTion, the march commenced at the Ellipse near the White House and concluded at Capitol Hill, amplifying calls for global recognition of atrocities faced by Hindus in Bangladesh and demanding action to end their ongoing persecution.
Shuvo Roy, one of the protestors called on Biden-Harris administration to weigh in on Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, their ally in Bangladesh, to immediately release Chinmaya Krishna Das, the Hindu monk who has been illegally detained and tortured by security forces of the Yunus regime.
The genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh dates back to the 1947 partition of India, during which widespread violence engulfed the subcontinent. Hindus in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) became a targeted minority, facing systemic discrimination, displacement, and large-scale massacres. Over the decades, they have endured relentless persecution, including forced migrations and the confiscation of property under discriminatory laws like the Enemy Property Act.
During Bangladesh’s liberation war in 1971, Hindus were particularly targeted in what many experts have called a genocidal campaign. The Pakistan Army, alongside allied militias, targeted Hindus and Bengali intellectuals, resulting in the brutal deaths of 2–3 million people, countless forced conversions, and mass displacement.
Despite Bangladesh’s emergence as an independent nation in 1971, Hindus have continued to face violence and discrimination. From the 1992 riots following the Babri Masjid demolition in India to the 2001 post-election violence and the 2013 Shahbagh protests, the targeting of Hindus has persisted. Issues such as land grabs, temple desecration, forced conversions, and the harassment of Hindu communities remain pervasive.
Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure (2009–2024), Bangladesh’s Hindu minority experienced both progress and persistent challenges. While Hasina’s government promoted greater political inclusion and sought justice through the establishment of the International Crimes Tribunal, communal violence and systemic discrimination continued to plague Hindu communities. Recent escalations following Hasina’s departure in 2024—marked by over 2,000 incidents of violence and attacks on 69 temples in August alone—have further underscored the vulnerability of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Hindus now represent less than 8% of Bangladesh’s population, a sharp decline from approximately 30% in 1947. The march in Washington, D.C., sought to shine a light on this alarming marginalization and called on the global community to take urgent action, said Srikant Akunuri, one of the organizers of the event.
Organizers emphasized the need for international intervention to safeguard the rights and dignity of Hindus in Bangladesh. “This march is not just a cry for justice; it is a demand for accountability,” said Utsav Chakrabarti, one of the organizers. “We must act now to protect the lives and freedoms of Hindu minorities before it is too late.” He added. Another organizer Milton Chowdhury, demanded that the new Administration in the White House under President Trump address the following issues in the upcoming months and years-
De-Radicalization of Education
U.S. economic aid to Bangladesh should be contingent upon the de-radicalization of its Islamic educational curriculum, ensuring that it promotes inclusivity and secular values.
Demographic Preservation
Concrete goals must be set to halt the demographic decline of Hindu and Buddhist minorities in Bangladesh. If these measures fail, the creation of autonomous zones for minorities, akin to Kosovo or Native American reservations, should be explored as a last resort.
