Hindu American organizations are calling for sanctions against Bangladesh in response to attacks on minority communities
Minority Hindus in Bangladesh, who make up only around 8% of the 170 million population, have been subjected to more than 200 attacks across 50 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5.
Several Hindu American organizations have condemned the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and urged that U.S. aid to the country be contingent upon the Bangladeshi government taking concrete steps to protect these vulnerable populations.
Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh's 170 million people, have faced more than 200 attacks across 50 districts since the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5.
The situation worsened this week following the arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in a sedition case. His denial of bail led to protests by community members in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other areas. Das, a former member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was recently expelled from the organization.
Ajay Shah, president of Vishva Hindu Parishad America (VHPA), expressed concern over the arrest of Das, the vandalism of the Kali Mandir in Chittagong, and the rising attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. “Is this the human rights legacy the Biden administration wants to be remembered for?” he asked. VHPA General Secretary Amitabh Mittal noted that the global media’s silence on the ongoing attacks was deafening, stressing that the arrest of an ISKCON priest and violent attacks on Hindu temples highlighted an alarming rise in religious intolerance. He called these incidents part of a broader pattern of discrimination against minorities.
Mittal also argued that the lack of international condemnation emboldens the perpetrators and puts the safety of minorities at further risk.
In an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, Hindus for America First (HFAF) suggested halting U.S. funding for projects in Bangladesh linked to China’s interests and prioritizing initiatives that benefit the U.S. and its allies. Utsav Sanduja, the founder and chairman of HFAF, called for U.S. aid to be contingent on Bangladesh’s government taking measurable steps to protect minority communities, such as Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. He also pointed out the dangerous ties some Bangladeshi officials have with extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam, which could pose a threat to U.S. security. Sanduja recommended visa restrictions and increased oversight to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies in the U.S.
Additionally, Sanduja argued that Bangladesh’s reliance on the U.S. market for garment exports could be leveraged through strategic tariffs to support American manufacturing. He also suggested that U.S. defense cooperation with Bangladesh be paused until the country aligns more closely with U.S. security priorities.
Tejal Shah, a representative of Hindu temples in the U.S., strongly condemned the violence against minorities in Bangladesh, including the imprisonment of Shree Krishna Das Prabhu Ji and the destruction of Hindu temples. She emphasized that minorities in Bangladesh live in constant fear and called for the protection of their rights. She also urged that the concerns of American Hindus should not be ignored by the U.S. administration.
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