I am writing to express grave concern over the escalating persecution of Hindus, Christians, and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. What is unfolding is not a series of isolated events but a disturbing pattern of communal violence, intimidation, forced displacement, and impunity targeting Bangladesh's Hindu minority of approximately 8-9% of the population (roughly 14 million people historically declining due to such pressures).In recent months, particularly since late 2024 and intensifying through 2025-2026, attacks have included mob violence against Hindu homes, temples, businesses, and individuals—often in broad daylight with little effective intervention by authorities. Notable cases include the horrific public lynching and burning of Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in December 2025 following false blasphemy accusations, as well as multiple reported murders, arsons, and desecrations documented by human rights groups. These incidents highlight a growing climate of fear and normalization of targeted violence against minorities.This current crisis echoes the horrors of 1971, when the Pakistani military and collaborators, including Jamaat-e-Islami, perpetrated widespread atrocities—widely described as genocide—disproportionately targeting Hindus and secular Bengalis, resulting in millions killed and displaced.


On March 20, 2026 - H. Res. 1130 was introduced in the House.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1130

This resolution:

1. Condemns the atrocities committed by the Pakistani military and its ally- the Jamaat-e-islami in 1971
2. Recognizes the targeted extermination of Hindu minorities as part of those crime
3. Calls on the United States to formally acknowledge these acts as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity
4. Urges historical accountability for perpetrators, including elements within the Pakistan Army and Jamaat-e-Islami

Formal recognition of the 1971 genocide is vital not only for justice and historical truth but also to confront the enduring ideological currents that fuel anti-minority violence today—including the role of groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, which collaborated in 1971 and retains influence in some Islamist networks in the United States.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to:

• Co-sponsor and support swift advancement of H. Res. 1130 to recognize the 1971 genocide and condemn ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh
• Advocate for the U.S. Department of State to prioritize religious minority protections in bilateral engagements with Bangladesh, including through diplomatic pressure and monitoring
• Support continued Congressional oversight, including regular reporting on attacks against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities.
• The resolution calls on the President of the United States to formally recognize the atrocities committed in 1971 by the Armed Forces of Pakistan, along with its Islamist ally Jamaat-e-Islami, against the people of Bangladesh—especially ethnic Bengali Hindus—as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

H.Res 1130 underscores a critical and often overlooked reality: Jamaat-e-Islami is not merely a historical actor, but a transnational Islamist organization that continues to have a presence and support base in the West, including in the United States—making this recognition both historically necessary and strategically relevant.

Importantly, the resolution goes beyond acknowledgment. It documents the scale and nature of the 1971 atrocities and highlights that religious minorities in Bangladesh—particularly Hindus—continue to face systemic persecution, echoing the traumas of that period.

Our nation has a proud history as a champion of religious freedom, pluralism, and human rights. Inaction in the face of this escalating crisis risks undermining those values and emboldening extremist elements. Your leadership on this bipartisan issue would send a powerful message of solidarity and accountability.Thank you for your attention to this urgent humanitarian and strategic matter. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss it further or provide additional information.

Respectfully,