Human Rights Report Exposes Islamist Attacks on Hindu and Ahmadiyya Minorities in Bangladesh

According to readout from the White House, Sullivan spoke with Yunus on Monday evening and repeated US support for a stable and democratic Bangladesh. "Both leaders expressed their commitment to respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of religion," the readout said without giving details.

The protection of all Bangladeshi citizens' human rights, regardless of the religion they believe in, has featured in a phone conversation between US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan and interim government chief Muhammad Yunus amid attacks on Bangladesh's Hindu minority.

According to readout from the White House, Sullivan spoke with Yunus on Monday evening and repeated US support for a stable and democratic Bangladesh. "Both leaders expressed their commitment to respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of religion," the readout said without giving details.

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India and the US have voiced concern in recent months over reports of attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh since the overthrow of the government headed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Bangladesh's caretaker government has dismissed these reports as exaggerated and Yunus has claimed that he remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all Hindus.

The White House readout said that Sullivan thanked Yunus for the leadership of Bangladesh during a challenging period. Sullivan said that the United States continues its support for prosperous, stable, and democratic Bangladesh; he offered "continued support from the United States in meeting the challenges that Bangladesh faces".

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Yunus' statement by his spokesperson in the telephone conversation was totally mum on the issue of the rights of the Bangladeshi citizens. His statement said that both leaders discussed issues of mutual interest, and Sullivan praised the progress made in Bangladesh for turning the economy and initiating political, election, and other reforms.

"Sullivan also thanked him for announcing the possible election dates, and he offered continued US support for the democratic process of the country," the statement said, referring to Yunus's remarks in a recent interview that the general election could be held in late 2025 or early 2026.

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Yunus said he is expecting reports of six reform commissions by January 2025, and a “consensus-building process” will begin after that to prepare Bangladesh for reforms and elections, the statement added.

The two sides also discussed the development situation in Bangladesh and Yunus thanked the US for its support in overcoming “inherited problems”.

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India-Bangladesh relations sank to a new low since the interim government led by Yunus assumed office, primarily over the targeting of Hindus and other minorities in the neighboring country. The arrest of Bangladeshi monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in November on a charge of sedition, which triggered widespread protests in several Indian states, has emerged as a fresh irritant in the ties.

There were reports of attacks on Hindus and vandalisation of temples and businesses owned by the minority community in the power vacuum after Hasina stepped down. Unrest triggered by the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das led to more attacks on the community, especially in southern Bangladesh. The interim government has said it is committed to protecting minorities and 70 people were arrested in connection with 88 attacks in recent months.

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This is exactly what Donald Trump did in advance of winning the US presidential election and when referring to erstwhile US President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala for not doing enough to prevent attacks on Bangladesh's minorities. "I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos," Trump said in a post on X in October.

Following his election victory, however, Trump has been silent on this issue. More recently, Indian-American lawmaker Shri Thanedar raised the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh said the time has come for the US Congress to act.

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"The crowds of the majority have destroyed Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindus who are practising their religion in peace," Thanedar said in the US House of Representatives on December 11. "The time has now come for the US Congress to act and the US government to act.every possible tool in our hands needs to be used to ensure that such atrocities in Bangladesh against Hindus stop right away."

The White House said a day later that President Biden was monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and that the US would hold the interim government in Dhaka accountable for ensuring the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

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"The security situation in Bangladesh has been tough since the former prime minister was removed from office. And we have been working closely with the interim government to enhance the capability of their law enforcement and security services to deal with the challenge," National Security Communications advisor John Kirby told a news conference.

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