Hindu American groups have condemned the escalating violence against minorities in Bangladesh, urging the United States to make its aid to the country contingent on measurable actions to protect vulnerable populations.

Bangladesh’s minority Hindu population, which accounts for roughly 8% of its 170 million people, has faced over 200 attacks across 50 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5. Tensions escalated further this week with the arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in a sedition case. Das, a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) who was recently expelled was denied bail, sparking protests in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other areas.

Vishva Hindu Parishad America (VHPA) president Ajay Shah called the developments deeply troubling. “The news of Das' arrest, vandalism of Kali Mandir in Chittagong, and the rising attacks on Hindus across Bangladesh are disconcerting. Is this the human rights legacy the Biden administration wants to be remembered for?” he asked.

VHPA general secretary Amitabh Mittal criticised global silence on the issue. “The silence of global media regarding the ongoing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh is deafening. The recent arrest of an ISKCON priest and the violent attacks on Hindu temples underscores the alarming rise in religious intolerance,” he said, adding that such incidents reflect a “broader pattern of discrimination.”

In an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, Hindus for America First (HFAF) Founder and Chairman Utsav Sanduja called for decisive action. “We humbly ask that your administration make US aid contingent on the Bangladeshi government taking measurable action to protect these populations. Taxpayer dollars should never support governments that fail to safeguard their most vulnerable citizens,” he wrote.

Sanduja alleged that some Bangladeshi officials have ties to extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam, posing a threat to US security. He recommended visa restrictions and tighter oversight to curb the spread of these ideologies.

Additionally, Sanduja urged imposing tariffs on Bangladesh’s garment exports to prioritise American manufacturing and halting defence cooperation until Bangladesh aligns with US security priorities.

Tejal Shah, a representative of Hindu temples across the US, also condemned the violence. “The minorities are living in constant fear, being harassed, and the world is silently watching. This suffering must stop. The expectations of American Hindus should not be undermined by the administration,” she said.

The groups emphasised the urgent need for international action to protect religious minorities and hold the Bangladeshi government accountable for its failure to safeguard vulnerable communities.