Nationwide protests have erupted across India in response to the recent violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, with political leaders and various organizations condemning the attacks. The catalyst for the widespread demonstrations was the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, an incident that has amplified concerns over the safety and rights of minorities in Bangladesh.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spearheaded many of the protests, with its International President, Alok Kumar, denouncing the "brutal killings of Hindus and the systematic violence against the Hindu society in Bangladesh". Kumar called for nationwide agitations in every district of India, urging the government to take diplomatic and political measures to ensure the safety and dignity of Hindus in Bangladesh. VHP's national spokesperson, Dr. Ravinuthala Shashidhar, announced that massive protest programs would be organized across all district headquarters and major centers.
In Delhi, hundreds of VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters clashed with police near the Bangladesh High Commission. Protesters, carrying saffron flags and chanting slogans against the violence, broke barricades as they marched towards the High Commission. Security had been heightened in the area with multiple layers of barricades and a reinforced presence of police and paramilitary forces. Demonstrations also took place in Kolkata, where protesters attempted to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission but were stopped by police. The protestors in Kolkata burned effigies of Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government.
The protests have not been limited to India. Hindu religious organizations and minority rights groups held demonstrations outside the National Press Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh, decrying the lynching and what they described as a wider pattern of religious extremism, attacks on minorities, and official inaction.
The recent unrest is not an isolated incident. In 2021, communal violence against Hindu communities erupted across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival, sparked by a viral video allegedly showing the Quran being desecrated. More than 50 temples were vandalized, and at least eight people were killed. These events have contributed to a growing sense of insecurity among the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
The Indian government has yet to issue an official statement, but the protests reflect increasing pressure to address the issue of minority rights in Bangladesh. Some leaders are calling for stronger diplomatic and political measures to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Nobel Peace Prize conferred upon Muhammad Yunus, stating that a leadership that fails to protect its minorities has no moral right to international legitimacy.
The situation remains tense, with concerns about further violence and calls for greater protection for religious minorities in Bangladesh. The protests in India underscore the growing concern and the demand for action to ensure the safety and security of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
