PRESS STATEMENT
August 10, 2024 (EST-USA)
For Immediate Release
The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) stands in solidarity with international organizations, agencies, and institutions to strongly condemn the ongoing violence, attacks, and killings targeting Hindus in Bangladesh. These actions are seen as inhuman and despicable, causing deaths, destruction, and widespread fear among innocent people targeted solely because of their religious beliefs. Hindus, who make up only 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have been continuously targeted, resulting in deaths, displacements, and the destruction of homes and businesses.
Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to Bangladesh on Thursday to head an interim government following Hasina’s departure, said attacks on minorities could have been part of a conspiracy. He did not say who was behind the conspiracy. “Our job is to protect all of them,” he said on arrival in Dhaka from Paris. “If you have faith in me and trust me, please ensure no one is attacked in the country. If you cannot listen to me on this, I have no use being here.”
India’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal: “It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the wellbeing of all its citizens. We hope for the early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of the country itself and the larger region.”
Moyna Talukdar of the Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council: “I call upon the conscientious people of the country to forget all differences and stand unitedly by the side of the affected people and build social resistance.”
Recent reports indicate that violence has escalated following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, with Hindu homes, businesses, and temples being vandalized across 45 out of 64 districts in Bangladesh. Prominent Indian-American lawmakers have called for an immediate end to this brutal violence and urged the new interim government to uphold the rule of law. The Hindu American Foundation and other advocacy groups have met with U.S. officials to demand action against the violence, highlighting the urgent and dire situation on the ground.
The violence is part of a broader trend of rising attacks against religious minorities in South Asia, exacerbated by misinformation and majoritarian politics. Multi-faith organizations have condemned these attacks and called for justice, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency from the Bangladeshi government. Despite some arrests and government condemnation, there is a pressing need for more substantial actions to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further atrocities. The international community, including the United States and the United Nations, is urged to intervene and ensure peace and security for all religious minorities in Bangladesh.
“The IDC urges Bangladesh’s interim President, Muhammad Yunus, to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, particularly Hindus. It also calls on neighboring India, other countries, the United Nations, and international agencies to condemn these attacks and insist on the safety and well-being of all minorities.”
– Dr. Nicole Bissessar, Director of Community Cultural Affairs, Indian Diaspora Council.
For more information contact: Ashook Ramsaran at AshookRamsaran@gmail.com Mobile (USA) +1 917 519 5783 Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), established in 1997, is an international non-profit organization with global affiliates and membership in 21 countries with the objective to embrace, engage and enhance the shared heritage, aspirations and interests of persons of Indian origin with optimum inclusivity.