Rising Alarms Over Minority Safety in South Asia as US Lawmakers and Rights Groups Speak Out

US lawmakers warn of worsening instability in Bangladesh after mob violence, political killings and attacks on minorities, including the lynching of Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das. Regional fallout has followed. Meanwhile, rights groups urge global action on escalating abuses against Hindus in Pakistan, calling on the EU to condition trade benefits on accountability, enforcement, and protections for vulnerable minority communities.

Concerns over the safety of religious minorities in South Asia are intensifying, with US lawmakers warning of deepening instability in Bangladesh following a series of violent incidents, while international human rights organizations urge stronger global action to address persistent abuses in neighboring Pakistan.

US lawmakers flag worsening unrest in Bangladesh

Two members of the United States Congress have publicly voiced alarm over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh, pointing to mob violence, attacks on media institutions, and a growing pattern of assaults against minority communities. According to reports, the lawmakers described the developments as signs of a troubling breakdown in law and order.

Indian American Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Suhas Subramanyam issued separate statements calling for urgent measures to protect vulnerable groups, ensure accountability for violent crimes, and restore stability in the country.

Krishnamoorthi focused on the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu worker who was lynched by a mob, describing the incident as a deliberate and targeted act of violence occurring amid widespread unrest. While acknowledging that arrests have been made, he emphasized that partial action is not enough. He urged Bangladeshi authorities to carry out a thorough, transparent investigation and to prosecute everyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. He also stressed the need for immediate steps to safeguard Hindu communities and other minorities, underscoring that lasting peace depends on restoring respect for the rule of law.

Political violence and media attacks deepen fears

Representative Subramanyam highlighted a broader decline in security following the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader who had been preparing to contest parliamentary elections. In the aftermath of Hadi’s death, he noted, violence escalated further, with reports of newspaper offices being set ablaze and additional casualties recorded.

Subramanyam also addressed the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, describing it as a shocking case of mob brutality. He said the killing, reportedly triggered by allegations of blasphemy, demands a serious and impartial investigation. According to Subramanyam, these events appear to be part of a wider trend that has intensified since recent political changes in Bangladesh, with religious minorities increasingly bearing the brunt of attacks on homes, temples, and livelihoods.

Reaffirming his position, the Virginia Democrat said he remains committed to advocating for stability and for the protection of Hindu and other minority communities in Bangladesh and beyond.

Brutal killing sparks regional fallout

Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment factory worker, was beaten and burned to death in Bhaluka, located in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. Investigators say a large crowd forced its way into the factory where he worked, dragged him outside, and carried out the attack. Police later stated that they received information too late to intervene effectively. At least a dozen suspects have been detained as the investigation continues.

The violence has had wider regional consequences. Amid mounting unrest, India has indefinitely halted visa services for Bangladeshi nationals, following earlier suspensions at several visa centers. Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Dhaka after the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot at close range on December 12 while traveling through the capital.

International spotlight on minority rights beyond Bangladesh

As Bangladesh grapples with unrest, international attention is also turning to long-standing human rights concerns in Pakistan. Numerous organizations have recently raised the issue with the United Nations and the European Parliament, expressing strong support for Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and its urgent appeal over escalating abuses against minorities, particularly Hindus.

Rights groups argue that despite repeated assurances from Pakistani authorities, conditions for minorities have significantly worsened over the past two years. Documented abuses include the abduction and forced conversion of underage Hindu girls, coerced marriages, sexual violence against women and children, trafficking for exploitation, and the illegal seizure or destruction of Hindu temples, homes, and property. These incidents, they say, reflect entrenched legal and institutional discrimination rather than isolated failures.

In their appeal to European lawmakers, the organizations urged that any renewal of Pakistan’s GSP+ trade status be tied to clear and independently verified improvements in minority protections. They called for effective accountability for perpetrators, genuine enforcement of existing laws, and regular, transparent monitoring to ensure promises translate into real change on the ground.

The groups warned that renewing trade privileges without strict human rights conditions would risk sending a dangerous message—that the suffering of persecuted communities can be sidelined in favor of political or economic interests. Such an approach, they argued, would undermine the European Union’s credibility as a global defender of human rights.

A growing call for accountability

Taken together, the developments in Bangladesh and Pakistan point to a broader regional challenge facing religious minorities. From Washington to Brussels, and from international rights bodies to grassroots advocates, calls are growing louder for accountability, transparency, and meaningful protection for vulnerable communities. Whether these warnings will lead to sustained action remains an open and pressing question.