A peaceful demonstration held outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London turned tense on Saturday when a group of Khalistani supporters disrupted the gathering. The protest, organized by members of the Bangladeshi-Hindu and British-Hindu communities, aimed to draw international attention to rising violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Participants said the protest was meant to show solidarity with victims of targeted attacks. However, the event was interrupted when Khalistani activists arrived, chanting anti-India slogans and waving flags linked to the movement.
“It was disturbing to see extremist elements trying to drown out voices calling for peace and protection of minorities,” said Manu Khajuria of the UK Insight group.
The London demonstration followed reports of several troubling incidents in Bangladesh. Among them was the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 29-year-old factory worker in Mymensingh, whose body was later burned publicly after accusations of blasphemy. Days later, another man, Amrit Mondal, died after being beaten by locals in Rajbari. Authorities condemned the violence but claimed Mondal had been involved in extortion.
India has expressed strong concern. The Ministry of External Affairs described ongoing attacks on minorities — including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists — as “a matter of grave concern” and called for those responsible for Das’s killing to be brought to justice. Officials also cited independent reports documenting more than 2,900 incidents of violence, arson, land grabbing, and killings since the formation of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in August last year.
“These incidents cannot simply be dismissed as political unrest,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, urging accountability and protection for vulnerable communities.