Protests erupt in India over lynching of Hindus in Bangladesh

Protests broke out outside the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha on December 25 as Hindu groups demonstrated against the lynching of two members of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh, intensifying calls for strong diplomatic action by New Delhi.

The killings of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and Amrit Mondal in Rajbari district have triggered widespread outrage in India. Organizations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad have staged protests outside Bangladeshi missions, while political parties including the BJP and the Congress have taken to the streets demanding a firm response from the Centre.

The protests come amid escalating instability in Bangladesh, where the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government is struggling to rein in violence following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. The country has witnessed a spate of lynchings, the assassination of a prominent student leader, attacks on media offices and cultural groups, and violent demonstrations demanding justice.

Adding to the volatile political climate, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka on December 25 after 17 years in exile. His return, ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections, has boosted morale within the BNP, particularly after the interim administration imposed a blanket ban on Hasina’s Awami League — a move critics say has tilted the electoral field.

The United Nations has voiced concern over the situation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged protesters to “refrain from violence” and preserve a peaceful electoral environment, while UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that “retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions” and stressed the need for safe and inclusive participation in public life.

Echoing these concerns, VHP leader Vinod Bansal called for immediate UN intervention, describing the pre-election violence as a global warning sign and alleging attempts to erode Bengal’s cultural fabric.

Former Indian envoy to Bangladesh Veena Sikri said Rahman’s return after nearly two decades would likely galvanise BNP supporters, even as Islamist parties reassess their political alignments. “There will be a huge surge in popularity for the BNP,” she said, noting that Rahman’s return had long been tightly controlled by the previous regime.

In India, recent protest outside the Puri Jagannath Temple underscored growing public anger over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, with demonstrators demanding accountability for the killings and decisive international action to halt the violence.