The White House has confirmed it is “closely,” monitoring ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, stressing that the Biden administration has consistently urged Bangladeshi leaders to protect the country’s religious and ethnic minorities.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters on December 12, 2024, “We’re watching this very, very, very closely, and the President is following events closely as well,” adding, “We’ve been very clear in our engagement with all Bangladeshi leaders that protection of religious and ethnic minorities is absolutely critical, and the leaders of the interim government have repeatedly committed to providing security to all Bangladeshis, regardless of religion or ethnicity. We want to hold them to that.”
Kirby acknowledged the difficult security situation in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He noted that the White House is working with the interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, to enhance the capacity of law enforcement and security agencies to address these challenges.
Condemnation and Protests in the U.S.
South Asian Hindu Americans have strongly condemned the violence and organized protests across the United States, calling on both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration to pressure the Bangladeshi government to safeguard ethnic minorities.
Indian American lawmakers Raja Krishnamoorthi and Shri Thanedar have also issued strong statements advocating for the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.
“As targeted violence against Hindus and other minorities continues amid the disorder in Bangladesh, I urge the members of the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations to address this crisis directly during the upcoming hearings to confirm Senator Rubio as the next U.S. Secretary of State,” said Rep. Krishnamoorthi.
He further emphasized that Senator Rubio must reaffirm the incoming administration’s stance and commit to concrete actions to address “anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.”
Rep. Thanedar echoed these sentiments in remarks on the floor of the U.S. House, highlighting the urgency of raising awareness about the worsening human rights crisis in Bangladesh.
“Whether at home or abroad, we cannot remain silent while innocent people are subjected to unspeakable acts of violence due to their religious beliefs,” said Rep. Thanedar.
India’s Concerns
Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Chief Advisor Yunus and senior Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka on December 9 to express India’s concerns over the safety of minority communities. Misri also highlighted several “regrettable incidents,” involving attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties.
U.S.-India Relations
In the context of U.S.-India relations, Kirby highlighted that President Joe Biden is “very proud” of the progress made under his administration, noting the transformation of the bilateral partnership and the strengthening of regional alliances through the Indo-Pacific Quad.
“I don’t know how many meetings he’s [President Biden] had now inside the Quad and bilaterally with the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi],” Kirby said. “There’s an awful lot in our relationship that has improved: military-to-military communication and defense security partnerships… people-to-people ties, economic ties.”
When asked how a potential Trump administration might handle the Quad, Kirby stated, “That’s going to be up to the incoming administration. It’s going to be up to them to determine how they leverage the Indo-Pacific Quad.” He underscored the significant efforts of the Biden administration in enhancing the alliance.
Kirby also noted bipartisan support for U.S.-India relations, adding, “I don’t see anything in the future which would indicate a change in that. There has been strong bipartisan support for growing this bilateral relationship, and I would expect that that will continue.”
