To the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji,
Namaste,
We, the undersigned, reach out to you today with a deep sense of concern and urgency regarding the ongoing and brutal persecution of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. This is not merely an internal issue for Bangladesh—it is a matter of international concern, and one that impacts India’s security and political stability. As a nation that shares historical, cultural, and moral ties with Bangladesh, India cannot afford to ignore this pressing issue any longer.
The situation for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Jains in Bangladesh is dire. Since the partition of India in 1947, India has borne the legal and moral responsibility to protect the rights of religious minorities in the countries formed from the partition, particularly Bangladesh. The violent history of persecution, from genocide and rape to the destruction of temples and the theft of property, continues unabated. Despite changes in government, whether military or civilian, the Hindu population in Bangladesh has steadily declined. Since 1951, it has decreased by 15 percent—an alarming trend indicative of ongoing ethnic cleansing.
A group of Hindu and human rights organizations has presented a report titled Atrocities Against Religious Minorities in Bangladesh to various international bodies, including the UN, World Bank, IMF, and the Asian Development Bank, urging them to take swift action.
The root cause of this persecution is simple yet horrifying: being Hindu in Bangladesh has become a reason for relentless violence and discrimination. The tragic events of 1971, when Pakistani soldiers identified Hindus by the absence of circumcision, serve as a chilling reminder of this deep-rooted hatred. In 2024, the situation has worsened, with repeated acts of violence—killing, looting, burning, and rape—against Hindus, followed by a cynical campaign of denial and false accusations against India.
We, the signatories of this letter, are deeply committed to both the nation of our citizenship and to the land of our ancestors. We believe we are uniquely positioned to understand the gravity of the situation, as we too face similar challenges in India. In light of these circumstances, we urge you to take the following actions:
Address the Indian Public: Publicly acknowledge the gravity of the situation in Bangladesh and outline concrete steps your government will take to protect the rights of Hindus in that country.
Establish an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG): Build a consensus across the political spectrum on this issue, ensuring that it remains a central focus of India’s foreign policy and national security agenda.
Call for Free and Fair Elections in Bangladesh: Advocate for immediate elections in Bangladesh, with international oversight, to restore democratic legitimacy and pressure the current government to cease its oppression of religious minorities.
Demand Accountability from Bangladesh: Deliver a strong, confidential message to the Bangladeshi government, emphasizing India’s role as a key economic and strategic partner. India should consider withholding critical resources, such as exports and medical aid, until Bangladesh ends its persecution of Hindus.
Reassess India’s Relationship with Bangladesh: Reconsider the classification of Bangladesh as a “friendly” country in light of its ongoing human rights violations.
Set Up a Monitoring Committee: Establish a high-level committee to regularly report on the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh, ensuring accountability and transparency.
Protect Hindu Refugees: Strengthen the border and prioritize visas for Bangladeshi Hindus fleeing persecution. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 already establishes India’s moral obligation to provide refuge to oppressed religious minorities.
Address Illegal Migration: Launch a nationwide initiative to expel illegal Bangladeshi migrants from India. This is a crucial step in safeguarding India’s security and resources.
Crack Down on Corruption: Take decisive action against Indian officials who enable illegal migrants to obtain fraudulent Indian identity documents, treating such acts as sedition against the nation.
Demand Action from the United Nations: Urge the UN to stop accepting Bangladeshi peacekeepers for deployment in its missions due to the ongoing human rights violations they perpetuate.
Engage the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): Use India’s diplomatic influence to pressure the OIC to intervene and demand that Bangladesh immediately cease the persecution of Hindus.
We appeal to you to act swiftly and decisively. The fate of religious minorities in Bangladesh is not just a matter of distant diplomacy—it is a matter of humanity, and it reflects on India’s standing in the world as a beacon of justice and moral leadership.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to your leadership in bringing an end to the suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Sincerely,
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