The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) noted in 2020 that “amidst the Bangladeshi governments’ broader crackdown on civil rights, freedom of religion or belief continues to be impacted, especially for the country’s religious minorities—including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and Ahmadi Muslims.”

“Placard demonstration against ‘persecution of minorities’ in Bangladesh,” by Prashalan Govender, The Witness, August 26, 2024:

Residents and community activists gathered in Raisethorpe on Saturday afternoon to pray for and protest against the persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Holding placards reading “All eyes on Hindus of Bangladesh” and “Hindu Lives Matter”, the prayer and peaceful protest was in response to the recent violent attacks on minority groups in Bangladesh, following the student-led protests which ousted the country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month.

Programme director, attorney Surendra Singh started the event by conveying the importance of the gathering to the crowd.”The looting of businesses and homes owned by minorities, the raping of women, and murder is showing a clear aim of getting rid of minorities,” he said.

Singh said while the gathering was focusing on the plight of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, other minorities have also been persecuted and they need to be prayed and advocated for too.

South African Minority Rights Equality Movement (Samrem) chairperson Daleep Lutchman said the coming together of people on Saturday was to “pray for peace and stand in solidarity with minority communities in Bangladesh”.

Lutchman said he is concerned that Bangladeshi law enforcement is not stomping out the violence and hatred. Lutchman added that “Western media” have done very little to extinguish and expose the persecution of minorities in the country.

He said he and his organisation “resolutely stand against the suffering endured by minorities” and that he hopes more attention is given to the issue and that the necessary parties intervene.

Another speaker, magistrate Ashin Singh said…the persecution of Hindus is “less about religion and more about humanity as harming others is inhumane.”…