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Hundreds Rally at WH to Support President Trump and Indian PM Modi; Demand Action on Persecution of Bangladeshi Minorities
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Hundreds of Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist Americans gathered in front of the White House on Thursday afternoon to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India during his visit with President Donald Trump. The demonstrators expressed strong support for the U.S.-India partnership while urging both leaders to address the escalating persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Carrying banners and chanting for justice, the rally called for immediate U.S. intervention, including the release of Mahatma Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the establishment of a safe zone for Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists in Bangladesh, and stronger diplomatic and economic measures against Islamist groups fueling terror in the region. Protesters warned that if left unchecked, Bangladesh risks becoming another Afghanistan—a breeding ground for extremism.
The demonstration, led by United Hindus of USA, emphasized the urgent need to stop the systematic killings, attacks, and displacement of minorities. As a direct outcome of the rally, President Trump has entrusted Prime Minister Modi with the responsibility of addressing the crisis, urging India to take action on the worsening human rights situation in Bangladesh.
Protesters also warned of the potential consequences for U.S. national security. The unchecked rise of Islamist radicalism in Bangladesh could transform the country into a recruitment hub for global jihadist networks, including Al-Qaeda, Jamaat-e-Islami, and ISIS-linked groups.
“The U.S. cannot afford another Islamist stronghold in the Indian Ocean, where extremists would be free to organize and launch attacks,” said Pankaj Mehta of the Interfaith Coalition for Human Rights. “If action is not taken now, this crisis could spiral into a humanitarian catastrophe, forcing thousands of displaced minorities to seek asylum.”
“President Trump’s firm response to Hamas has sent a clear message that America will not tolerate Islamic extremism. The same decisive action is needed against Jamaat-e-Islami, the Hamas of Bangladesh, before it destabilizes the region further,” said Surojit Chowdhury, a Hindu human rights activist.
“We are not asking for special treatment—we are demanding basic human rights and dignity. The U.S. cannot afford to ignore yet another brewing humanitarian crisis that will fuel global terrorism,” said Dinesh C. Mojumdar, the President of Bengali Club USA.
Priyotosh Dey, the Chairman of the Indian Subcontinent Partition Documentation Project USA, declared, “As Hindu Americans, we refuse to stay silent while our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh are slaughtered. Our message to President Trump is clear: If you stand against global jihad, you must stand with the persecuted Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists in Bangladesh.”
Provat Das, the Chairman of United Hindus of USA remarked, “The Biden administration turned its back on persecuted minorities, but we trust President Trump to take decisive steps. Bangladesh must face consequences if it continues to oppress its minority populations.”
The rally featured speeches from prominent leaders, including Pankaj Mehta, Bidyut Sarkar, Dilip Nath, Bhabatosh Mitra, Samar Roy, Motilal Nath, Santosh Nath, Nitai Debnath, Lakshman Majumder, Nirmal Paul, Shibu Chowdhury, Hemant Paul, Nitai Paul, and Sadananda Howlader, among others. Local activists Krishna Gudioati, Utsab Chakraborty, Priya Saha, Debotosh Bhattacharya, and Shuvo Roy also attended in solidarity.
Organizers pledged to continue mobilizing lawmakers and the international community to demand concrete U.S. action. Key demands include:
Sanctions against Bangladeshi officials complicit in human rights violations.
Emergency refugee assistance for persecuted minorities.
Official U.S. Congressional recognition of the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide.
As the U.S. and India strengthen their alliance, it is critical that both nations make human rights a central issue—not just for geopolitical stability, but for the protection of innocent lives.
