LONDON: Massive protests erupted outside the Parliament of the United Kingdom demanding stringent action against the unbridled persecution of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. The protests in London gained immense response as thousands of Persons of Indian Origin(PIOs) and Bangladeshi Hindus marched demanding security for the lives of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. The protestors called the atrocities unleashed in Bangladesh against the Hindus as a reflection of sheer violation of human rights and Hindu genocide.
Protest Outside UK Parliament
On January 21, massive pool of people gathered outside the UK Parliament and demanded the Labour Party to take strong action against the Hindu genocide in Bangladesh. Despite the bad and unbearable weather in London, people of Indian origin and Bangladeshi Hindus held banners and shouted slogans thus demanding justice for the Hindus in Bangladesh. The strong political and governmental interference from London could save the Hindu lives in Bangladesh, urged the protestors.
The protestors reiterated that if the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer and the Labour Party severely condemns the atrocities of Bangladesh, that will send a strong message and action in terms of saving the Hindu lives in the country and will aid in stopping the violence and discrimination in Bangladesh, targeting the minority Hindu community. The protestors also raised the human rights concerns prevailing in Bangladesh and reiterated that firm action is inevitable to protect the Hindu rights and their lives.
Labour Party MPs Take Part in Protest
Many MPs from the Labour Party were also present during the protests. Former MP from the Labour Party Virendra Sharma asserted that the British government and the human rights activists should immediately intervene and halt the atrocities in Bangladesh, which includes the merciless killing of the Hindu population. “I am urging the British government and all those forces who always work for human rights to protect the interests of the minorities in Bangladesh, to intervene as quickly as possible so that the killings should be stopped and not be repeated, so they can enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of worship”, exclaimed Virendra Sharma.
Former MP Virendra Sharma further added that the British government should strongly express its anger and unacceptability to the Bangladesh High Commission in London. “The strongest protest should be from the government of Britain. The British government has not done enough. More can be done”, said Sharma. The serving MP from the Labour Party Luke Murphy further expressed hope on the Labour government. He said that the Labour government is proactive, engaging and will continue to press for a resolution to ensure and protect the minorities in Bangladesh.
The protestors in London also urged to revoke the Nobel Peace Prize given to the Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus as his administration is solely responsible for all the atrocities against the minority Hindus and no concrete action has been taken on the radical groups despite the escalating violence. The protestors also demanded the release of Chinmoy Prabhu, a Hindu monk who has been jailed in Dhaka on baseless allegations of sedition. “There is no justice for Hindus”, said another protestor Anamika Dev. “My family were all threatened. It is a genocide. We want justice and we want Britain to put pressure on Bangladesh to save Hindus”, she further added.
Four points demand by the protestors to PM Starmer
- Immediate Suspension of UK Aid and Trade with Bangladesh till it takes necessary action against the perpetrators
- Formal Parliamentary Action by issuing an urgent Ministerial Statement and enabling full parliamentary debate and scrutiny
- Targeted International Accountability by pursuing international scrutiny and applying targeted Magnitsky-style sanctions against perpetrators
- Monitoring and Engagement the situation by appointing a designated UK ministerial
The protest was organised by the Bangladesh Hindu Association(UK) and INSIGHT UK, Bengali Hindi Adarsh Sangha(BHAS) and other groups. The supporters of Hindu rights gathered at the Parliament square in London and echoed unitedly to protect the Hindu lives. Key personalities such as Baroness Sandeep Verma, Lord Dolar Popat, Ex-MP Virendra Sharma, MP Navendu Mishra, MP Luke Murphy, MP Jim Dickson, Birmingham Cllr Andrew Hardie and MP Andrew Mitchell also participated in the demonstrations.
They all reiterated that the horrific episodes escalating in Bangladesh is no less than ethnic cleansing. All protestors assured their support in acting as the united voice of the helpless Hindus of Bangladesh to seek justice by pressurising the UK government. Protestors further exclaimed that in 1947, 30 to 40 per cent of the population of Bangladesh were Hindus, which is now reduced to merely 7 per cent. “There is no law & order, no freedom of speech and no human rights in Bangladesh since the interim government came to power. We are urging Britain to take action”, the protestors added.
