In a fervent plea to President-elect Donald Trump, Bangladeshi-American Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians have described the plight of religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh as an “existential threat” posed by Islamist forces.
The coalition has called for immediate measures to curb the persecution of minority communities, urging international attention to the escalating crisis.
Central to the appeal is the case of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON leader, who was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 25 November on charges of sedition. Das is accused of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag, a charge his supporters vehemently contest as "false" and "harassing."
A court in Chattogram denied him bail, and the hearing is scheduled for 2 January 2025.
In a memorandum to Trump, the coalition has proposed linking Bangladesh’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions to its cessation of internal religious and ethnic persecution.
Among the recommendations is the establishment of a Minority Protection Act to ensure formal recognition of minorities and indigenous groups.
The proposed Act outlines measures including safe enclaves for minorities, a separate electorate, and stringent laws against hate crimes and hate speech.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) has also issued a statement demanding the immediate release of Das. Signed by the council’s acting General Secretary, Manindra Kumar Nath, the statement called the sedition charges “false and harassing,” and demanded the release of all 19 individuals implicated in the case.
The coalition has warned that the ongoing radicalisation in Bangladesh could have far-reaching consequences beyond South Asia, endangering global stability.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have soured in recent months, particularly following Das' arrest and a spate of attacks on Hindu communities.
The situation further deteriorated after Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, fled the country on 5 August amidst a student-led protest.
Muhammad Yunus, who now heads an interim government, has faced criticism for the state’s apparent inability to protect minorities.
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