Demanding Inclusivity: Bangladeshi Hindus hold a protest rally at Dhaka condemning the attacks on minority communities Photo: AP Demanding Inclusivity: Bangladeshi Hindus hold a protest rally at Dhaka condemning the attacks on minority communities Photo: AP

US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivanfc188, in a telephonic conversation with Bangladesh's interim government leader Muhammad Yunus, has raised concerns about the attacks on the Hindu minority in the country.

A statement from the White House following the call read, "Both leaders expressed their commitment to respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of religion."

India and the US have recently voiced concerns regarding the reports of violence against minority Hindus and other groups in Bangladesh, following the ousting of the government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.

The caretaker administration of Bangladesh has downplayed these reports. Yunus has pledged to protect the rights of Hindus.

"Sullivan reiterated the United States' support for a prosperous, stable, and democratic Bangladesh, and offered continued US assistance to address the challenges facing the country," said the statement from the White House.

However, a statement issued by Yunus's spokesperson after the phone call made no mention of protecting the rights of Bangladesh's citizens. Instead, it emphasised discussions on matters of mutual interest. Sullivan acknowledged the progress made by Bangladesh in improving its economy and advancing political, electoral and other reforms.

Pakistan, on the other hand, are behind India in second place, with eight points to their name, and also beat hosts China 5-1 in their most recent fixture. 

After losing to India 8-1 in their last encounter, Malaysia were desperate for a win, and showed immense character to fight it out against Japan after they were a goal down after the first half.

"Sullivan also thanked him for announcing possible election dates, and he offered continued US support for the democratic process of the country," the statement further said. It referenced Yunus's comments in a recent interview, in which he indicated that general elections might take place in late 2025 or early 2026.

Yunus also mentioned that six reform commissions were expected to present their reports by January 2025, followed by a "consensus-building process" to prepare Bangladesh for political reforms and elections.

The two leaders also discussed Bangladesh's developmental issues, and Yunus expressed gratitude for the US's support in addressing the country's "inherited problems".

Since Yunus's interim government took office, relations between India and Bangladesh have soured, particularly due to the escalating violence against Hindus and other minorities. The arrest of Bangladeshi monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in November on sedition charges, which sparked widespread protests in several Indian states, has further strained the relationship.

Reports of attacks on Hindus and the destruction of temples and businesses owned by the minority community emerged following the political vacuum after Hasina's departure. Violence intensified after the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, particularly in southern Bangladesh. The interim government, in response, has stated its commitment to protecting minorities, with 70 people arrested in connection with 88 attacks in recent months.

Before his victory in the US presidential election, Donald Trump had criticized US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for not doing enough to prevent the violence against minorities in Bangladesh. "I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos," Trump wrote in an October post on X.

However, after his election win, Trump has remained silent on the issue. Recently, Indian-American lawmaker Shri Thanedar raised the matter of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, urging the US Congress to take action.

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“The crowds of the majority have destroyed Hindu temples, Hindu deities, and Hindus who are practising their religion in peace,” Thanedar said during a US House of Representatives session on December 11. “The time has now come for the US Congress to act and the US government to act... every possible tool in our hands needs to be used to ensure that such atrocities in Bangladesh against Hindus stop right away.”

A day later, the White House respondedfc188, stating that President Biden was closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and that the US would hold the interim government in Dhaka accountable for ensuring the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.