Raja Krishnamoorthi Seeks U.S. Intervention to Curb Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has called on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to assist in addressing the escalating violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. In a letter sent Thursday, Krishnamoorthi urged Blinken to engage with Muhammad Yunus, who has recently assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government, to end the violence and ensure justice for the victims.
Krishnamoorthi highlighted the urgency of the situation following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He wrote, “With Muhammad Yunus now leading the interim government, it is crucial that the United States work with his administration to halt the violence and hold those responsible accountable.”
The congressman referenced previous reports of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, noting that such incidents are not unprecedented. He pointed to the violent anti-Hindu riots in October 2021, which resulted in nine deaths and extensive destruction, as well as earlier attacks in 2017 and 2013. These riots have often been linked to political instability and religious intolerance.
Krishnamoorthi emphasized that regional instability fueled by religious violence undermines U.S. and allied interests. He called for direct U.S. intervention to help Yunus’s government restore order and deliver justice.
The current unrest in Bangladesh follows Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5 amid widespread protests led mainly by students advocating for an end to a quota system for government jobs. These protests have evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.
