The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance observed the 5,253rd birth anniversary (Janmashtami) of Lord Krishna in Dhaka with religious rituals, a discussion meeting and a colourful procession, while raising concerns over the safety, political representation and future of the country’s Hindu community.
The organisation organised a series of programmes at the Shri Shri Ram-Sita Temple before joining a larger Janmashtami procession. Participants later travelled through several roads of Dhaka and concluded the procession at Victoria Park.
The programme combined traditional religious observances with discussions on issues concerning the Hindu community and demands for greater protection and political representation.
Janmashtami Programme Held in Dhaka
The celebrations began at 7 a.m. with the prescribed worship of Lord Krishna at the Shri Shri Ram-Sita Temple. A discussion meeting was organised at 10 a.m., followed by distribution of prasad at 1 p.m.
Later in the afternoon, at 3 p.m., members of the organisation joined a procession from the premises of the Shri Shri Ramna Kali Temple. The procession moved towards Palashi intersection and participated in the main Janmashtami procession before travelling through different roads of Dhaka.
The procession eventually reached Victoria Park, where the programme concluded. The discussion meeting was presided over by Advocate Dinbandhu Ray, president of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance.
Among those participating were Executive President Advocate Pradip Kumar Pal, Secretary General Advocate Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, Vice Presidents Nitai Deshkar and Dulal Chandra Mondal, Women’s Affairs Secretary Advocate Pratibha Bakshi, Hindu Youth Grand Alliance President Engineer Mrinal Kanti Madhu, General Secretary Sujan Gain and Finance Secretary Madhab Mitra.
Representatives of the Hindu Student Grand Alliance and other office-bearers of the organisation also attended the programme.
Leaders Highlight Political Representation Concerns
During the discussion, speakers spoke about different aspects of Lord Krishna’s life and highlighted the religious message of defeating evil and upholding righteousness.
They said the principles associated with Lord Krishna’s life should inspire efforts to establish peace, prosperity and security for people across the country.
The speakers also raised concerns about the political position of Bangladesh’s Hindu community. They said Hindus had hoped that their situation would improve following the change in government and that they would receive greater security and freedom from discrimination. However, they claimed that those expectations had not been fulfilled.
According to the speakers, political representation of Hindus in the National Parliament remains significantly below what they believe should correspond with the community’s population.
They claimed that, based on population proportions, the Hindu community should have at least 30 members in Parliament, while only two members are currently present. The speakers further alleged that these two members do not identify themselves as Hindus.
They consequently described the present situation as one in which the Hindu community has no effective Hindu representation in the National Parliament.
The speakers also expressed concern about what they described as inadequate representation of Hindus in the government’s Council of Ministers.
Grand Alliance Raises Concerns Over Attacks on Hindus
The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance also drew attention to alleged incidents of violence and insecurity affecting Hindus in various parts of Bangladesh.
Speakers alleged that members of the community have faced attacks, arson, murder, attempted murder, death threats, land grabbing and damage to religious idols.
They also raised allegations involving the abduction of teenage girls, forced religious conversion, theft and robbery, saying such incidents have created an atmosphere of insecurity among members of the Hindu community.
Although acknowledging police action, the speakers claimed that incidents of crime against the community were continuing to increase.
They demanded swift investigation and the arrest of those accused of attacks and killings involving Hindus. They also called for exemplary punishment for those found responsible.
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The meeting further discussed the changing demographic position of the Hindu population in Bangladesh.
According to figures cited by the speakers, Hindus accounted for approximately 22 percent of the population around the time of the country’s independence but the figure has now fallen to around 8 percent.
The speakers linked the decline to a lack of political representation and what they described as continuing insecurity faced by the community.
Demand for Reserved Seats and Separate Elections
The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance renewed its call for stronger constitutional and political safeguards for religious minorities.
Speakers demanded effective steps to stop attacks against minorities and prevent members of minority communities from being compelled to leave the country.
They also called for guaranteed representation of religious minorities in the National Parliament and other areas of public life.
One of the key demands raised during the programme was the restoration of reserved seats for religious minority communities in the National Parliament, along with a separate electoral system.
The speakers argued that such arrangements would help ensure meaningful political participation and provide minority communities with a stronger voice in the country’s democratic institutions.
They warned that continued political exclusion and insecurity could have serious consequences for the future of Bangladesh’s Hindu population.
The speakers claimed that if the situation continues unchanged, Bangladesh could become a country without a Hindu population within the next 15 to 20 years.
The programme concluded with the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance reiterating its demands for protection of Hindu citizens, an end to minority persecution, stronger political representation and legal action against those accused of crimes against the community.
The press release was issued by Advocate Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, Secretary General of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance.
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