Washington, Feb 10: Members of the Hindu community and human rights activists staged a peaceful protest outside the United States Department of State, urging Washington to take stronger action against what they described as continued persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Despite freezing temperatures, demonstrators gathered with placards calling for justice, accountability, and urgent international intervention to protect vulnerable communities.
Addressing the gathering, Srikanth Akunuri of Hindu Action appealed to US authorities to act decisively, demanding that those responsible for attacks on minorities be prosecuted, including through international legal mechanisms. He also called for neutral international observers to be deployed during Bangladesh’s 2026 elections to ensure democratic processes and minority safety. Human rights advocate Interfaith Peace Vigil Against Terror representative Pankaj Mehta echoed similar concerns, warning that testimonies shared at the protest pointed to targeted violence and weak accountability.
Physician and activist Aruna Pal described the situation as a moral test for the global community, condemning violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries. Protesters said their aim was to draw sustained international attention to what they termed systematic abuses and to push democratic governments, including the US, to respond with urgency. Bangladesh has faced repeated scrutiny from global rights groups over minority protections, while the US has maintained that it continues to monitor human rights conditions and raise concerns through diplomatic channels.
