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Major rally across U.S. over Bangladesh violence
Organizers said the rallies were peaceful and focused on humanitarian and human rights concerns.
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 01, Feb 2026
- 05:00 EST
- 13
Flyer for the nationwide demonstration of about violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh / Courtesy: Global Coalition for the Protection of Hindus in Bangladesh
Members of the Hindu and multifaith communities gathered in Los Angeles on Jan. 31 as part of a nationwide demonstration.
The protests were held across 25 U.S. cities to raise awareness about violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Organizers said a large number of people participated nationwide in a coordinated humanitarian rally opposing what they described as targeted killings of Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. A major gathering was held in Artesia, Southern California, where participants called attention to what they said was an escalating pattern of attacks.
ALSO READ: Hindu Americans rally to highlight minority attacks in Bangladesh
Speakers cited demographic data showing Hindus accounted for nearly 34 percent of Bangladesh’s population in 1947, compared with about 5 percent today.
“Innocent Hindus are being brutally attacked solely for their religious identity. This is not an isolated incident or a chapter of the past—this is a systematic and ongoing pattern of violence that must be recognized by the world community,” said Geeta Sikand, a Hindu community leader from Southern California and a member of the National Steering Committee of the Global Coalition for the Protection of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The initiative was held simultaneously in cities across the West, East Coast, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the United States, bringing together people from different faiths and backgrounds. Organizers said the rallies were peaceful, lawful, and non-political and focused on humanitarian concerns and universal human rights.
“Silence and passiveness only enable large-scale atrocities. Hindu passiveness in the face of sustained violence against their community should be a matter of grave concern, a dangerous illusion. Hindus must recognize and respond to the existential threats facing their community with urgency and unity,” said Surendra Sharma, a Hindu community leader from Southern California.
“There is much more that must be done to stop religious persecution, but raising our collective voices is the first—and most immediate—step to recognize the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. In the past 24 years alone, the world has witnessed over 48,500 terrorist attacks driven by religious hatred," said Param Desai, a Hindu community leader from the San Francisco Bay Area.
"What we are seeing is an ideological war, where extremist religious ideologies fuel violence, persecution, and systematic brutality. The world must confront the root cause of these atrocities and act decisively before it is too late,” he added.
Organizers also urged participants and outlined ways community members could engage further on the issue, including:
Contacting Senate and House representatives to highlight cases of violence against minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, and citing victims such as Dipu Chandra Das, as well as urging support for or calls to hold congressional hearings.
Raising awareness through social media and community forums using bona fide and verifiable sources.
Supporting relief efforts by donating to or volunteering with organizations assisting minorities in Bangladesh, including Sewa USA.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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