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Chicago Hindu community hold peaceful protest to condemn atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh
Speakers at the event demanded that the US President address the situation and that lawmakers pass legislation in the matter, as they called for recognition of the ongoing violence against Bangladeshi Hindus by US authorities.
Hindu Americans in peaceful protest at the Rana Regan Center in Carol Stream / Courtesy Photo
Around 500 Hindu Americans gathered at the Rana Regan Center in Carol Stream, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, to peacefully protest ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. The event followed a similar outdoor rally organized by the same group two months earlier.
The instances of violence against minority communities in Bangladesh escalated following the arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges as well as the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, India. According to reports, the Hindu community in Muslim-majority Bangladesh has reportedly faced over 200 attacks across 50 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5.
In his opening remarks, Haribhai Patel, president of Bhartiya Seniors of Chicago, highlighted the destruction of Hindu temples and targeted killings of Hindus in Bangladesh. Dr. Ram Chakroborty of Chicago Kali Bari provided an in-depth analysis of the worsening situation, pointing to incidents of forceful religious conversions and abuses by authorities. He urged the Hindu community to speak up, stating, "We Hindus need Hindu Desh."
Siddhesh Shevade of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA encouraged Hindu Americans to contact their local and federal representatives to raise awareness and demand action. Nirav Patel from the Asian Store Owners Association (AASOA) proposed an economic boycott of Bangladeshi products by American Hindus.
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Hemant Patel of Sanatan Shakti Sansthan addressed the meeting and provided a comprehensive account of the Hindu population's decline in Bangladesh, which has decreased from 33 percent in 1947 to a mere 6 percent in current times. He emphasized the destruction of 40,000 temples and described the situation as an ideological war against Hindus. Amitabh Mittal, general secretary of The Vishwa Hindu Parisad America (VHPA), drew parallels with the global response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, questioning the lack of similar advocacy for Hindus facing persecution. He reiterated the call for a Hindu homeland.
Harish Kolasani from India Hub shared his emotional reaction to a recent video depicting violence against college students in Bangladesh, vowing to engage local leaders on the issue. Lawyer Laxmi Sarathy urged the community to leverage their significant contributions to political campaigns to demand action from elected officials. She questioned why resolutions could be passed for Palestine but not for Hindus in Bangladesh.
Representatives from various organizations, including Rakesh Malhotra and Amar Upadhya of The Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), shared details of coordinated protests across U.S. cities. They emphasized the need to treat every Hindu death as a collective loss for the community. Vandana Jhingan spoke on behalf of Hindu women, condemning mass killings, forced conversions, and sexual violence. She also called for the Nobel Prize of Muhammad Yunus to be revoked.
Dr. Rashmi Patel of FIA called on the U.S. President to address the ongoing "Hindu genocide" and urged Hindus across America to contact their representatives. Dr. Bharat Barai concluded the event by comparing the decline of Hindu populations in Pakistan and Bangladesh since 1947. He called on the Indian government to grant residency to persecuted Hindus from these regions and to deport illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas.
The attendees chanted slogans and pledged to rise in defense of Hindus in Bangladesh. The protest underscored the community’s unified demand for action to safeguard the rights and lives of Hindus worldwide.
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