Bangladesh Christians Rally in Solidarity With West Bengal Believers After Attacks

The Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA) organized a human chain and protest rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka last Friday, condemning attacks allegedly carried out by Hindu nationalist groups and urging Indian authorities to safeguard the rights of religious minorities.

The demonstration came in response to incidents reported in West Bengal that began on July 5. According to reports, the violence included the destruction of an under-construction Presbyterian church, an assault on worshippers during a Sunday service, and the harassment of a Christian widow. The church construction site was also reportedly vandalized by a mob.

The incidents have resonated deeply with Christians in Bangladesh, where believers make up a small minority and often face challenges of their own. Father Albert Rozario, pastor of the cathedral parish in the Archdiocese of Dhaka, said news of the attacks had caused anguish among Christians across the country.

“It has caused us a lot of pain and suffering,” Father Rozario said.

Religious rights advocates argue that the attacks in West Bengal are not isolated events but part of a broader trend affecting Christian communities in India. The United Christian Forum of India reported 706 attacks against Christians between January and November 2025, a figure frequently cited by activists monitoring religious freedom and minority rights.

Father Rozario noted that while the constitutions of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan formally guarantee religious freedom, many minorities across South Asia continue to face obstacles in exercising those rights without fear or intimidation.

His remarks reflect wider concerns about the security of minority communities in the region, where religious tensions have periodically surfaced despite constitutional protections and legal guarantees.

BCA President Nirmol Rozario called on the Indian government to ensure accountability and justice for victims. He argued that the treatment of religious minorities serves as a measure of a nation’s broader commitment to human rights and democratic values.

“The way to understand the condition of a country is to look at the condition of its religious minorities,” Rozario said.

He further urged authorities to conduct impartial investigations into allegations of persecution and property destruction.

“We want to tell the Indian government that justice must be ensured through an impartial investigation into the cases of religious minorities who have been tortured and churches vandalized,” he said.

The response to the attacks has extended beyond Christian organizations. Interfaith voices in Bangladesh have also spoken out against violence targeting religious communities.

Manindra Kumar Nath, secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, said that Bangladesh itself has experienced episodes of extremism following political instability in 2024. He emphasized that attacks against minorities and places of worship are unacceptable regardless of national borders or religious affiliation.

“Persecution of minorities and attacks on religious institutions are not desirable in any country, be it India or Bangladesh,” Nath said.

He called on governments throughout the region to act swiftly and decisively to prevent violence against minorities and to uphold the principles of religious freedom and equal protection under the law.

The demonstrations in Dhaka underscore growing concern among faith leaders and rights advocates across South Asia about the safety of religious minorities. As calls for justice continue, Christian organizations in Bangladesh say they will remain vocal in supporting fellow believers facing persecution and in advocating for stronger protections for all minority communities throughout the region.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now