Despite cold, rainy weather, a large and determined crowd gathered at Parliament Square in London on Tuesday, calling for international attention to the ongoing persecution, torture, and killing of minority communities in Bangladesh.
The protest was organised by the Bangladesh Hindu Association (BHA) and supported by INSIGHT UK and Bengali Hindu Adarsh Sangha (BHAS). More than 500 participants attended, including students, professionals, families with children, elderly activists, and interfaith leaders from across the UK’s Hindu diaspora.
The demonstration was attended by several prominent political figures and dignitaries, including Baroness Sandeep Verma, Lord Dolar Popat, former MP Virendra Sharma, MP Navendu Mishra, MP Luke Murphy, MP Jim Dickson, Birmingham Councillor Andrew Hardie, MP Andrew Mitchell, and Conservative leader Biplob Roy Chowdhury from Romford. Speakers unanimously acknowledged that the situation facing minorities in Bangladesh amounts to ethnic cleansing and assured the diaspora of their full support in raising the issue with the UK government.
A spokesperson for the organisers highlighted multiple ongoing concerns faced by minority communities in Bangladesh, including:
- Long-standing patterns of discrimination, targeted violence, killings, and demographic decline.
- First-hand testimonies from families of victims, underscoring the severe human cost.
- Serious concerns over the arrest of interfaith religious leader Chinmaya Prabhu, the public lynching of Dipu Das, and the killing of 15 Hindus in what was described as a planned act of genocide.
The protest attracted wide coverage from both UK-based and international media. Journalists from print and broadcast outlets interviewed organisers and participants, while social media platforms were saturated with photos, videos, and livestreams that amplified the protest’s message to a global audience.
During the event, organisers submitted a formal memorandum to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outlining four key demands:
- Immediate suspension of UK aid and trade with Bangladesh until concrete action is taken against perpetrators of violence.
- Urgent parliamentary action, including a Ministerial Statement and full parliamentary debate.
- Targeted international accountability, including Magnitsky-style sanctions against those responsible.
- Ongoing monitoring and engagement, through the appointment of a designated UK ministerial lead or special envoy.
In a statement, the Bangladesh Hindu Association said:
“This protest is not against any nation or faith, but against injustice. Standing at Parliament Square is a call to conscience, urging the international community to recognise that Hindu lives matter and that silence is not an option.”
In their closing remarks, BHA , BHAS and other representatives thanked attendees, volunteers, partner organisations, and members of the media for their solidarity and support. They emphasised that the protest marks not an end, but a renewed beginning of sustained advocacy efforts to seek justice and protection for persecuted minorities in Bangladesh.
