London: Hundreds of people of Indian origin and Bangladeshi-origin Hindus braved cold weather and heavy rain to stage a protest outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, calling on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour government to take stronger action against what they described as the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Among those present was Labour MP for Basingstoke, Luke Murphy, who said several of his constituents had contacted him with concerns about violence and discrimination faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. He said he had raised the matter both with the Foreign Office and in Parliament. “The Labour government has been engaged with this issue and will continue to press for a resolution to ensure minorities in Bangladesh and elsewhere are protected,” he said.
Former Labour MP Virendra Sharma also addressed the gathering, urging the British government and human rights organisations to intervene swiftly. “The killings must stop and must not be repeated. Minorities should be able to enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of worship,” he said. Sharma added that the UK government should formally convey its protest to the Bangladesh High Commission in London, arguing that “the strongest protest should come from the British government” and that more could be done.
Alak Chanda, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK), which organised the protest, said the Hindu population in Bangladesh had fallen sharply since 1947. “There is no law and order, no freedom of speech and no human rights in Bangladesh since the interim government came to power,” he claimed. “We are urging Britain to take action. Why is Britain not pressuring this government?”
A digital van circulated near the protest site, displaying images and messages highlighting what organisers described as a “Hindu genocide.” Demonstrators carried placards demanding the revocation of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Muhammad Yunus, the unconditional release of monk Chinmoy Prabhu, protection for temples, and justice for Dipu Chandra Das, who they said was lynched.
Anamika Dev, whose father was killed in Bangladesh in 2004, shared her personal story at the protest. “There is no justice for Hindus,” she said. “My entire family was threatened. This is genocide. We want justice, and we want Britain to put pressure on Bangladesh to save Hindus.”
