“Ethnic Cleansing Attempt”: UK MP Blackman Condemns Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh

GG News Bureau
London, 4th Dec. British Tory MP Bob Blackman described the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh as “an attempt at ethnic cleansing” during a debate in the House of Commons on Monday. The debate followed an urgent question raised by Labour MP Barry Gardiner.

Blackman highlighted the atrocities, stating, “Hindus are suffering with their houses being burned, their businesses ransacked. Two priests were arrested over the weekend, and 63 monks were denied entry into the country. This is an attempt at ethnic cleansing of Hindus from Bangladesh. Will the minister outright condemn this violence?”

Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West, representing the UK government, noted that addressing these issues had been a priority during her meeting with Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus in November. She reiterated the UK’s support for the interim government and its willingness to assist with law and order measures.

Several MPs voiced concern, stating their constituents with ties to Bangladesh feared for the safety of Hindus. Calls were made for the UK government to take every diplomatic step to protect Hindus and to ensure the perpetrators of violence were held accountable. Some MPs urged the minister to raise the matter at the United Nations.

Barry Gardiner revealed that over 2,000 incidents of violence had occurred since August, predominantly targeting Hindus. He emphasized that constitutional protections for minority religions in Bangladesh appeared to be ignored. “There are reports of police and army standing by as more than 20 places of Hindu and Sufi worship were vandalized, and their worshippers attacked,” he said.

Gardiner added that the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das raised further concerns, as he was reportedly denied due process and charged with sedition while attackers remained unpunished.

Democratic Unionist Party MP Jim Shannon detailed the scale of violence, citing attacks on 69 Hindu temples, 157 homes being looted or burned, and nine Hindu lives lost over a 16-day period.

The House of Commons debate underscored the urgency for international attention and intervention to safeguard minority communities in Bangladesh.