US on Bangladesh violence: Now America has also expressed concern over the continuous violence against minorities including Hindus in Bangladesh. It says that it welcomes the focus of the new government on the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh and is in touch with India and other countries of the region to monitor the situation there. America also called for an end to violence in Bangladesh. Earlier, India has also expressed concern over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Even on Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi, while addressing the country from the Red Fort, criticized the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Amid reports of attacks on temples and properties of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina resigned and left for India on August 5, several influential US lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to look into these incidents. Chief Adviser to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Mohammad Yunus on Tuesday met the aggrieved community at the famous Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka and assured them that his government would punish the culprits.
America is also distressed by the violence in Bangladesh
“We continue to work towards ending violence in Bangladesh, ensuring accountability and respect for the rule of law,” US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in his daily press conference on Wednesday.
He was responding to a question about dialogue between India and the US on the situation in Bangladesh after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government. Patel said, “We are in touch with our Indian partners as well as other countries in the region to discuss recent developments in Bangladesh.”
He also welcomed the statement of Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in which he called for an end to violence and maintaining peace. Patel said, “We welcome the goals of the new governments to restore the security and protection of the people of the minority community.”
Meanwhile, the Hindu American Foundation on Wednesday urged the White House to take action to protect the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. The foundation said, “According to the latest reports, the President (Joe Biden) is not commenting on the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus despite repeated reports of attacks.”
“Action is demanded now! The silence of the President, Vice President and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus is unacceptable. Lives lost, homes and temples destroyed – yet no condemnation from our US government,” the foundation said in a post on the social media platform ‘X’.
Washington-based NGO ‘HinduAction’ claimed that Hindus in rural areas of Bangladesh are being targeted the most. “Their remote location gives them more leeway and time to target. Now that Mohammad Yunus is the new caretaker leader, the Vice President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should work on education and awareness at the grassroots level that will ensure that anti-Hindu sentiments are removed from the country’s madrasa curriculum and general thinking,” the NGO said on X. The NGO also said, “We hope the President and his advisers will realize that if Bangladesh loses its last eight percent Hindus, it will be a Taliban country.”