On Saturday, a protest organized by Hindus outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London regarding the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, including the recent lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, was met by a counter-protest by Khalistanis.
More than 500 protestors, primarily of Bangladeshi and Indian origin, joined the Hindu protest, expressing their shock over the brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker, on December 18 in Mymensingh. The protestors chanted "Hindus Lives Matter" and held placards demanding justice for Das, urging the protection of minorities, and highlighting the incarceration of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das. A digital van displayed images with the message "Hindus have right to live". The demonstration was organized by Bengali Hindu Adarsha Saangha (UK) and remained peaceful, with protestors standing behind barriers across from the High Commission.
Approximately 10 individuals carrying yellow Khalistani flags arrived and began shouting anti-India and anti-Hindu slogans, and praising Sharif Osman Hadi, who was recently assassinated. Police intervened to separate the two groups.
Prajjwal Biswas, an organizer from West Bengal, questioned the Khalistanis' involvement, stating, "I don't know why Khalistanis are protesting as this is not their cause. They are trying to instigate us". Shuchishmita, a Bangladesh-born protestor whose family still resides in Bangladesh, said that the "persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is something that has been going on for centuries and no media speaks about it," and that she was present "to ask for justice for the Hindu community". Vikram Banerjee, a British person of Indian origin whose family migrated from East Pakistan to India, called for assertive action from India and the UK, emphasizing the grave danger faced by innocent Hindus and the Western media's neglect of the Dipu Das lynching.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned the killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and stressed that the perpetrators should be brought to justice. India has also criticized Bangladesh for "unremitting hostility" against minorities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. VHP Joint General Secretary Dr. Surendra Jain said that dozens of Hindus have been killed, temples are under attack, young girls are being raped, homes and shops looted, and Hindus are being openly assaulted.
