Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Calls for Action to Protect Hindus in Bangladesh

American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has urged Secretary of State Tony Blinken to engage with the interim Bangladeshi government to address the rise in violence against Hindus. Krishnamoorthi highlighted recent incidents reported by credible media outlets and stressed the need for urgent intervention to ensure justice and stability.

Observing the recent rise in violence against the Hindus in Bangladesh, American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi urged the Secretary of State Tony Blinken to engage directly with the interim government to end this outbreak of violence, including the targeting of Hindus, and to bring those responsible to justice.

In a letter dated August 8 and released to the press on Friday, Krishnamoorthi noted credible eyewitness reports of the anti-Hindu attacks in prominent publications like the New York Times, Times of India, BBC, and Reuters, which showcase the scale of the attacks.

'Now that Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as Chief Adviser for the interim government, it is of utmost urgency that the United States engage with his government both to bring the violence to an end and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,' Krishnamoorthi wrote.

The New York Times reports attacks across multiple neighborhoods in Dhaka and other large cities, while Reuters noted hundreds of Hindus attempting to flee Bangladesh into India. Notably, violence following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation left 60 people dead, according to New York Times.

Krishnamoorthi emphasized that this is not the first instance of anti-government protests leading to anti-Hindu violence, pointing to similar riots in 2021, 2017, and 2013. He underscored the urgency of U.S. engagement to stabilize the region and protect vulnerable communities.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has taken oath as the interim government's leader, following Sheikh Hasina's sudden resignation amid deadly protests.

(With inputs from agencies.)