A coalition of Bangladeshi American Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians has issued an urgent appeal to President-elect Donald Trump, describing a dire situation for religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh. They are facing what they term an “existential threat” from Islamist forces, and in a heartfelt letter, they’ve sought both immediate relief and long-term solutions to halt the ongoing persecution.
Since the surge in violence following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, minorities have reportedly been subjected to mass displacement, with tens of millions fleeing the country. The letter details acts of violence including the burning of homes and businesses, temple desecration, land grabbing, torture, mass rape, forced conversions to Islam, and brutal murders.
The community leaders are asking Trump for immediate actions, starting with the release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who they assert is falsely imprisoned on sedition charges. They also urge Trump to ensure Bangladesh retains its secular and pluralistic democratic principles in its constitutional revisions.
Further, they propose that Bangladesh’s continued participation in UN peacekeeping missions should depend on halting internal ethnic and religious cleansing. They call for the prosecution of those listed in the 2011 Judge Sahabuddin Commission Report for crimes against minorities and demand that progressive political parties, which represent minorities and moderate Muslims, be allowed in the upcoming elections to counterbalance Islamist influence.
For long-term relief, the letter suggests a comprehensive Minority Protection Act to recognize minorities and indigenous groups officially, create safe enclaves, establish a separate electorate for minorities, and introduce laws against hate crimes and speech to protect religious practices and cultural heritage.
Additionally, they recommend judicial reforms including a Civil Rights Division in the Supreme Court, laws to safeguard religious properties, and prohibitions on discrimination in various sectors. They also advocate for the creation of a National Minority Commission, a Ministry of Minority Affairs, and foundations for Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians to support their communities.
The letter also pushes for legal protections against forced religious conversions and respect for traditional religious rights like inheritance.
The community leaders warn that without international intervention, Bangladesh risks descending into radicalization, which could have far-reaching effects. They emphasize the need to support Bangladesh’s moderate Muslim majority and minorities to maintain it as a beacon of secular democracy in South Asia.
This appeal is not just a cry for help but a call for the world to focus on a crisis with implications beyond Bangladesh’s borders, hoping that Trump’s commitment to religious freedom will translate into action to secure a peaceful and inclusive future for all Bangladeshis.
The letter addressed to President-elect Donald Trump was signed by Dwijen Bhattacharya, a Bengali language instructor at Columbia University; Bishnu Gopa, General Secretary of the United States Unity Council; and Advisor Dilip Nath. Overall support was provided by Liton Majumder, General Secretary of the Hindu Bengali Society of Florida, and President Sanjay K. Saha; Bhajan Sarkar, President of United Hindus of the USA, and General Secretary Ramdas Gharami; Paresh Sharma, President of the Jagannath Hall Alumni Association USA; and General Secretary Sushil Sinha.