The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) held an urgent exhibition and panel discussion titled “The Never-Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh”, exposing the brutal and systematic campaign against Hindus in Bangladesh. The event, hosted at the VIF Auditorium in New Delhi, laid bare the widespread ethnic cleansing, land seizures, and forced conversions plaguing the country’s non-Muslim communities.
Shocking Visual Documentation—FACT Exhibition Exposes Mass Atrocities
Curated by the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT), the exhibition presented damning visual and documentary evidence of the slow genocide unfolding in Bangladesh:
- Charred remains of Hindu villages and desecrated temples, targeted by radical Islamists
- Personal testimonies of survivors recounting sexual violence and forced conversions
- Systematic land-grabbing operations forcing Hindus into exile
- Data revealing a staggering decline in the Hindu population from 29.7 per cent in 1947 to under 7.9 per cent today
François Gautier, a veteran journalist and human rights advocate, emphasised: “This is not sporadic violence; this is an orchestrated ethnic cleansing operation. The world turns a blind eye because it does not fit their preferred narratives.”
Press Release
Vivekananda International Foundation
Exhibition & Panel Discussion on
"The Never Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh"New Delhi, India– The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted an exhibition and panel discussion titled "The Never Ending… pic.twitter.com/HmKfdYCknq
— VIF India (@vifindia) February 24, 2025
Panel Discussion—Experts Warn of an Intensifying Crisis
A high-profile panel featuring diplomats, journalists, and security experts dissected the evolving crisis:
- Ambassador Satish Chandra — Former Deputy National Security Advisor & Vice Chairman, VIF
- Ambassador Veena Sikri — Former High Commissioner to Bangladesh
- Dr. Anirban Ganguly — Chairman & Trustee, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation
- François Gautier — Correspondent for Valeurs Actuelles
Chaired by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, the discussion highlighted how Bangladesh’s ruling elite has emboldened Islamist factions, making the country an increasingly hostile place for its non-Muslim population.
A momentous highlight of the event was the attendance of India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, KC, marking New Delhi’s explicit concern over the deteriorating human rights situation. Doval, who closely monitors regional security, stated the critical threat posed by radical Islamist groups operating with impunity in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina’s Fall and the Rise of Islamist Rule
Following a wave of violent unrest, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5, seeking refuge in India. In her absence, an interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has taken over, drawing widespread criticism for delaying elections while allowing extremist groups to consolidate power. With Hasina gone, radical factions, backed by foreign influences, have unleashed a fresh wave of terror on Hindu communities. Reports detail mob-led pogroms, abductions of Hindu girls, and destruction of Hindu temples, indicating an alarming return to pre-1971 conditions.
India-Bangladesh Relations at a Breaking Point
In response to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s warning about anti-India elements in Bangladesh, Dhaka’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stated:
“We have a clear decision that we want good working relations with India on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocal interest. We have no ambiguity about this.” However, given Bangladesh’s historical complicity in harboring Islamist elements, Indian security experts remain deeply skeptical.
The VIF, India’s leading strategic think tank, has called for:
- International sanctions on Bangladesh’s government until minority rights are restored
- United Nations intervention to investigate ethnic cleansing
- A formal recognition of Hindu persecution as a human rights crisis
“If the world fails to act, Bangladesh’s Hindu population will disappear entirely in the next two decades,” warned Dr. Ganguly. The persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is not just a local issue—it is a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate international intervention. India’s role as a regional power will be crucial in shaping the response to this unfolding genocide.
