By Arushi Ramaka, Dhruv Upadhyay
Hindu Students Council strongly condemns the targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Sadly, this is only the latest flashpoint in the ongoing minoritization and genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh. Hinduphobic violence in the region has occurred for centuries, starting from Bakhtikar Khilji’s invasion of Bengali in the 13th century. In contemporary times, before the violent partition of British India, Hindus formed 22% of the population in Bangladesh. This number stands at just over 8% today [1]. It is estimated that there will be no Hindus left in Bangladesh by 2050 [2], with most of them fleeing to neighboring India, converting under coercion, or being killed. Unfortunately, there is very little awareness of this modern-day continued genocide.
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Commencing with “Operation Searchlight” which heralded the violence unleashed by the Pakistani army against the Bengali people in 1971, 3 million people– predominantly Hindu—were systematically slaughtered in one of the largest genocides that the world has ever seen [3]. Leading genocide scholar Rudolph Joseph Rummel has noted, ““the Hindus among the Bengalis were as Jews to the Nazis: scum and vermin that should best be exterminated. [4]” In line with this view, Pakistani Colonel Nadir Ali recounts the order during the 1971 War to “kill as many bastards as you can and make sure there is no Hindu left alive…. Kill the Hindus. It is an order for everyone. [5]” Bengali Hindus were massacred in 2001 amidst a surge of political turmoil [6], again in 2021 during Durga Pooja festivities across the country [7], and now in the wake of political instability that has paved the way for present-day atrocities. Temples have been attacked, homes looted and set on fire, women have been raped and assaulted, and entire Hindu villages targeted with arson and violence [8].
We urge the international community to take immediate action to condemn these atrocities, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide humanitarian aid to displaced Hindus. It is imperative that the world not remain silent in the face of this ongoing genocide.
Hindu students across the globe must unite in solidarity with our persecuted brethren. There have been countless instances where Hindu students have spoken up on campus, and have been hit with a barrage of baseless accusations. We condemn those who believe that speaking up about Hindu persecution is extreme or controversial. To those students who are organizing and attending protests, talking with lawmakers, and speaking up, do not stop. Let us raise our voices, advocate for justice, and demand an end to the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The only way to break the unforgivable silence surrounding the persecution of Hindus is to honor our truth even when the world does not want to hear it. Lawmakers such as Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, and Kevin Vuong have recognized our plight, showing us the power that a movement based on unspoken truths holds.
To speak up for Bangladeshi Hindus is not “political.” It is dharma.
Sources:
[1] Sarker, Probir Kumar. “How Hindus Were Targeted in 1971.” Dhaka Tribune. 25 October 2021.
[2] Hasan, Mohammed Mridul. “‘No Hindus Will be Left After 30 Years’.” Dhaka Tribune. 20 November 2016. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/10113/%E2%80%98no-hindus-will-be-left-after-30-years%E2%80%99
[3] Introvigne, Massimo. “The Bangladesh Genocide: Eradicating Hinduism.” Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights. https://bitterwinter.org/the-bangladesh-genocide-7-eradicating-hinduism/
[4] Ibid.
[5] Sarker, Probir Kumar. “How Hindus Were Targeted in 1971.” Dhaka Tribune. 25 October 2021. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/318616/how-hindus-were-targeted-in-1971
[6] “Minorities targeted in Bangladesh political violence.” The New Humanitarian. 31 January 2014. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2014/01/31/minorities-targeted-bangladesh-political-violence
[7] “Bangladesh: Protection of Hindus and Others Must be Ensured Amid Ongoing Violence.” Amnesty International. 18 October 2021. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/10/bangladesh-protection-of-hindus-and-others-must-be-ensured-amid-ongoing-violence/
[8] Pathi, Kruthika, et al. “The violence in Bangladesh after Hasina’s ouster stirs fear within the country’s Hindu minority.” Associated Press. 13 August 2024. https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-violence-hindu-sheikh-hasina-85fe6619c38e1b07e407441cb054a74e