US Congressional Briefing Exposes Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and HinduAction recently hosted a critical congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., bringing to light disturbing testimonies from witnesses and activists regarding the escalating violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The event, held just one day before the contested February 12 national election in Bangladesh, featured a diverse panel of journalists, human rights advocates, survivors, policy experts, and members of the Bangladeshi Hindu diaspora.
Testimonies of Fear and Institutional Breakdown
Speakers at the briefing painted a grim picture of a worsening climate of fear, institutional breakdown, and widespread impunity for perpetrators. CoHNA board member Sudha Jagannathan emphasized the urgent need to center "victim voices" in policy discussions, describing the ongoing situation as a pogrom and declaring that silence in the face of such violence is completely unacceptable.
Witnesses shared firsthand accounts of intimidation, alleged coordinated violence, and systematic targeting of Hindu families and religious institutions. Some warned that if current trends continue, demographic erasure of minority communities could become a reality. Diaspora youth speakers detailed their efforts to document incidents, alleged voter coercion, and the profound psychological toll these events are taking on minority populations.
Calls for International Action and Sanctions
The briefing included strong calls for concrete international action. Participants urged Congress and the State Department to publicly condemn the violence, hold formal hearings, designate Bangladesh as a Country of Particular Concern, classify Jamaat-e-Islami as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
Keynote speaker Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute advocated specifically for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, drawing parallels between Bangladesh's current trajectory and Islamist trends observed in Turkey and Iran. Rubin warned against what he characterized as misplaced international trust in Yunus, suggesting that such trust enables continued violence.
Lawmaker Responses and Political Context
Several lawmakers and former officials expressed concern during the briefing. Representative Tom Barrett (R-MI) encouraged continued advocacy on extremist threats, while Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) questioned whether the upcoming election could be considered "free and fair," noting that Sheikh Hasina's Awami League has been banned since May 2025 and its student wing declared a "terrorist organization" since October 2024.
Former Senator Samuel Brownback warned that sustained violence against minorities could destabilize the entire country and potentially drive out religious communities, creating broader regional security implications.
Expert Warnings and Institutional Complicity
Additional experts at the briefing alleged institutional complicity in the violence, citing specific cases of mob violence, arrests of peaceful protesters, the release of Islamist militants, and attacks on media outlets. Rana Hassan Mahmud from the Center for US–Bangladesh Relations warned that Bangladesh is heading toward "a sham election with predetermined results."
Mahmud issued a particularly stark warning: "By allowing Muhammad Yunus to remain in power, we are enabling the creation of a new hub of terrorism whose repercussions will extend far beyond Bangladesh's borders."
Broader Campaign for Minority Rights
Organizers clarified that this congressional briefing represents just one component of a wider grassroots campaign aimed at drawing international attention to minority rights and religious freedom concerns in Bangladesh. The event served as a platform to amplify voices that organizers believe have been systematically marginalized and to push for policy changes that address what they describe as coordinated violence against Hindu communities.
The timing of the briefing, immediately preceding Bangladesh's national election, underscores the urgency that organizers attach to these issues and their desire to influence international perceptions and policy responses during a critical political moment for the South Asian nation.
