Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Foreign Rights topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State representatives and community members urge investigation of alleged abuses against minorities in Bangladesh
Summary
Supporters of HR 11 told the committee they want the U.S. government to investigate recent allegations that religious minorities in Bangladesh — especially Hindus — have faced attacks and other abuses since an interim government installed in August 2024.
Representative Abdul Bikan introduced HR 11, a resolution asking the United States government to investigate allegations of abuse of religious minorities in Bangladesh following political upheaval in August 2024. "I'm urging you please approve the resolution and stand with all the minority religious people of the world," the sponsor said.
Multiple members of the New Hampshire Bangladeshi and Hindu communities testified about reports they described as a rapid increase in attacks, property damage and arrests targeting Hindus and other minorities since a period of student-led protests in the summer of 2024 led to an interim government led by a high-profile economist and Nobel laureate. Witnesses cited incidents including the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Dash on Nov. 25, 2024, and alleged destruction of temples, homes and cultural monuments.
Witnesses described economic disruption — including temporary closure of clothing factories and rising food costs — and said aid and relief groups had limited local access because of security problems and media restrictions. Several witnesses urged the committee to use the state’s voice to ask the U.S. State Department and Congress to investigate and to press for human-rights protections. Some witnesses noted the difficulty of relying on United Nations outreach alone and asked for U.S. involvement.
Committee members asked about the reliability of sources and whether U.N. or international rights groups had issued reports. Witnesses said social media and local organizations had documented incidents and offered to provide links and documentation; they asked the committee to allow time to submit written materials. Representative Bikan said he would be willing to present the measure on the House floor if the committee reports it.
Why it matters: The resolution asks a state legislature to urge federal action on alleged human-rights violations abroad and reflects active diaspora engagement in state-level diplomacy and human-rights advocacy.
