The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has issued an urgent call for international intervention as the situation in Bangladesh continues to deteriorate.
Reports of violent attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, have been on the rise since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned amidst extensive protests and riots that erupted in the country this week.
To address the severity of the crisis and find solutions for its resolution, FIIDS convened a panel discussion with experts including South Asian policy expert Captain Alok Bansal, Priya Saha, and FIIDS chief of policy and strategy Khanderao Kand on Aug. 7.
The panel outlined key recommendations for immediate action. It called on the U.S. President, the State Department, and presidential candidates to take immediate steps to restore peace and protect minorities in Bangladesh.
The organization also urged U.S. elected officials, particularly those in Human Rights Commissions and Foreign Affairs Committees, to condemn the violence and advocate for protective measures. Furthermore, it demanded that the UN convene a special session to address the plight of Bangladesh's minority groups and send peacekeepers and observers to the country to help with crisis management.
FIIDS has also called on India's leadership to take action, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking officials to stabilize the situation and establish shelters along the border in anticipation of possible influxes of refugees.
The Indian American community has been encouraged to engage with their elected representatives to push for action and to raise awareness through peaceful demonstrations.
The critical necessity of swift international intervention to prevent history from repeating itself is underscored by FIIDS, which draws parallels between the current situation and the 1971 genocide, in which millions were killed, raped, and forcibly displaced, drastically reducing Bangladesh's minority population from 22 percent to approximately 8 percent by 2022.
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