New York: In a compelling call for international attention, Hindu American organizations flew a large banner over the Hudson River, urging the world to take immediate action against the ongoing violence faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. The banner flew over the iconic Statue of Liberty, which symbolizes human dignity, freedom, and equality on the global stage.
Recent reports highlight disturbing instances of targeted violence, forced evictions, kidnappings of young girls, lynchings, and systematic abuse, which have affected up to 200,000 Hindus. These actions, coupled with the seizure of property, are posing a grave threat to the 13 to 15 million Hindus still living in Bangladesh. Since August 5, 2024, approximately 250 verified attacks have been documented, alongside over 1,000 reported incidents.
Sitangshu Guha, a representative from the Bangladesh Hindu Community and one of the event’s organizers, emphasized the dire situation, stating, “Hindus in Bangladesh are on the brink of extinction. We hope this action will bring attention to the issue globally and pressure the United Nations to act and protect the victims of militant Islamic forces in Bangladesh. If Bangladesh becomes free of Hindus, it will become Afghanistan 2.0, and the militant groups will spread to India and beyond, including to the West. This is a global issue.”
Pankaj Mehta, another key organizer and member of the Interfaith Human Rights Coalition, said, “It is time for the UN Human Rights Council to set aside political concerns and officially acknowledge the 1971 Bangladesh genocide—the largest since World War II. Three US-based organizations—the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, Genocide Watch, and the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience—have already recognized the actions of the Pakistani occupation forces and their Islamist allies as genocide, specifically targeting Hindus. The UN must follow suit to prevent another genocide from unfolding.”
Surjit Chowdhary, a founding member of Sree Gita Sangha in New Jersey, called on the Bangladesh government to end the violence against Hindus and resolve political differences through peaceful, democratic means.
The rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh is seen as a significant threat to India, as it could spread across porous borders, potentially destabilizing West Bengal and further regions. The growing ties between radical forces on both sides of the border are a cause for concern, drawing parallels to the anxieties experienced during the Afghanistan crisis. Humanitarian organizations are increasingly alarmed by the deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh, fearing that the violence could escalate into a full-blown genocide.
In response to the violence, there is a call for a boycott of Bangladeshi garment exports, which represent 85% of the country’s earnings. Activists are urging major buyers such as Walmart, H&M, Gap Inc., Target, PVH Corp, and VF Corporation to suspend orders from Bangladesh, arguing that continued economic support could be enabling the ongoing violence against Hindus and other minority communities.
The Jewish community in the United States has expressed solidarity with Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, drawing comparisons to the violence carried out by Hamas in Israel. Just as the global community rallied against the atrocities in Israel, there are now widespread calls for immediate intervention in Bangladesh to prevent further suffering.
The event was live-streamed on StopHinduGenocide.org, where ongoing documentation of the violence, along with its historical context, is being shared. The site outlines the dire situation facing Hindus in Bangladesh unless global action is taken.
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