Members of the Indian and Bangladeshi Hindu communities staged a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Friday, condemning what they described as targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and alleging systemic failure by authorities to ensure minority safety.
Holding placards reading “Hindus have the right to live”, “Targeted, terrorised and silenced” and “Protect Hindus”, protesters raised slogans demanding justice for victims and accountability from Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The demonstration drew attention to a series of recent incidents that have sparked outrage among diaspora groups and human rights organisations.
The immediate trigger for the London protest was the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker in Bangladesh, who was lynched and set on fire by a mob following accusations of blasphemy. Bangladeshi authorities later stated that there was no evidence to support the allegation against him, further intensifying anger and grief among minority communities.
Protesters said the killing was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of violence against Hindus, often sparked by unverified accusations and followed by mob attacks. Demonstrators called on the international community to take note of what they described as an alarming deterioration in minority rights in Bangladesh.
Participants at the protest urged global institutions and foreign governments to pressure Bangladesh to investigate such crimes impartially and ensure the safety of religious minorities. They accused the interim administration of failing to act decisively against perpetrators and allowing a climate of fear to persist.
“This is not about politics, it is about the right to live without fear,” one protester said, adding that silence from the international community only emboldens those who incite violence.
The London demonstration comes amid growing concern highlighted by a recent report from the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities. The report documented at least 71 incidents linked to blasphemy allegations across Bangladesh between June and December 2025.
According to the findings, cases were reported in more than 30 districts, including Rangpur, Chandpur, Chattogram, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj, Khulna, Comilla, Gazipur, Tangail and Sylhet. Rights groups said the wide geographic spread and recurring nature of the incidents point to systemic vulnerability rather than sporadic unrest.
The report noted that blasphemy accusations frequently escalated into police action, mob violence and collective punishment. In several instances, arrests were followed by attacks on Hindu neighbourhoods, including vandalism of homes and temples. One of the most severe episodes was reported in Rangpur in July, where the arrest of a minor was followed by the destruction of more than 20 Hindu houses.
Overall, the documentation listed arrests, first information reports, mob assaults, expulsions from educational institutions and multiple deaths linked to such allegations. More than 90 percent of those accused were Hindus, including minors aged between 15 and 17 years.
India has also formally raised concerns over the situation. The Ministry of External Affairs has condemned recent lynchings of Hindu men in Bangladesh and said it expects those responsible to be identified and brought to justice.
Indian officials have cited thousands of incidents of violence against minorities during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim administration, pointing to growing instability amid political unrest and questions over law and order.
Protests have not been limited to London. Demonstrations have also taken place outside Bangladesh diplomatic missions in India and elsewhere, reflecting growing anxiety among Hindu communities abroad. Organisers of the London protest said similar demonstrations may continue until concrete action is taken to ensure minority protection.
