WASHINGTON– Two U.S. lawmakers on Monday voiced serious concern over escalating violence in Bangladesh, condemning recent killings, attacks on media institutions, and what they described as a growing pattern of assaults targeting Hindu and other minority communities.
In separate statements, Indian American Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia warned that the unrest reflects dangerous instability following recent political developments and called for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities and uphold the rule of law.
Krishnamoorthi strongly condemned the mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man in Bangladesh, describing the incident as a targeted act of violence amid a deteriorating security situation.
He said that while authorities have reported arrests in connection with the killing, the Bangladesh government must pursue a full and transparent investigation and ensure that all those responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Krishnamoorthi also urged immediate measures to protect Hindu communities and other religious minorities from further attacks, warning that continued unrest threatens public safety and social stability.
Subramanyam, in his statement, said he was alarmed by the broader breakdown in security following the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader who had planned to run for parliament.
He said that violence intensified after Hadi’s death, with reports of newspaper offices being burned and additional fatalities occurring amid the unrest.
Addressing the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, Subramanyam described it as a shocking act of mob violence, saying the factory worker was lynched after being accused of blasphemy. He said the killing was unacceptable and must be thoroughly investigated.
Subramanyam said the incidents appear to be part of a wider pattern of attacks that have increased since a recent change in government, particularly affecting Hindu and other minority communities, including assaults on homes and temples.
Both lawmakers said they remain focused on promoting stability, accountability, and the protection of minority rights in Bangladesh, stressing that continued violence risks further loss of life and long-term damage to democratic institutions. (Source: IANS)
