A peaceful protest by members of the Hindu community was held outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Saturday, 27th December. The demonstration was organised to raise concerns over the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh and the continuing persecution of Hindus in the country.

However, what began as a calm and orderly protest soon took an unexpected turn when supporters of the Khalistan movement arrived at the site and attempted to disrupt the gathering. Their presence changed the atmosphere and created tension at a protest that was otherwise focused on justice and human rights.

Khalistani counter-protest sparks tension

During the course of the protest, around 10 men carrying yellow flags linked to the Khalistan movement reached the area and placed themselves directly in front of the Bangladesh High Commission building. These individuals began raising loud anti-India and anti-Hindu slogans, drawing attention away from the original purpose of the gathering. They also praised the recently assassinated extremist, Sharif Osman Hadi, which further escalated emotions at the site. As tensions rose between the two groups, police officers intervened promptly. They created physical separation between the protesters and the Khalistani supporters to prevent any confrontation and to ensure that the situation did not turn violent.

Demonstration over Dipu Das lynching and Hindu persecution

The main protest was organised by members of the Hindu community to condemn the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das and to bring global attention to the wider persecution faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. More than 500 people took part in the demonstration, including Hindus of Bangladeshi and Indian origin. Despite the sensitive nature of the issue, the crowd remained peaceful and united, raising slogans and appealing for justice in a calm manner.

Participants said they were deeply shaken by the killing of Dipu Das, a garment factory worker who was lynched on 18th December in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Hindus Lives Matter” and carried placards demanding justice for Dipu Das. They also called for better protection of minorities in Bangladesh and demanded the release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is currently in jail. The organisers, the Bengali Hindu Adarsha Saangha (UK), ensured that the protest remained disciplined, with participants standing quietly behind police barriers on the opposite side of the road from the Bangladesh mission.

Organisers allege deliberate provocation

According to the protest organisers, the arrival of Khalistan supporters appeared to be a deliberate attempt to provoke Hindu protesters. One of the organisers, Prajjwal Biswas from West Bengal, said he could not understand why Khalistani supporters chose to appear at a protest that had no connection to their movement. He stated that their actions seemed aimed at instigating unrest and distracting attention from the serious issue of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

Hindu community members share their concerns

Several members of the Hindu community shared personal stories and concerns during the protest. Shuchishmita, who was born in Bangladesh and still has extended family living there, said that persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh has been taking place for centuries but often goes unnoticed by the wider world. She explained that media coverage is rare and limited, which is why she felt compelled to join the protest. According to her, such treatment of the Hindu community should no longer be ignored or accepted.

Vikram Banerjee, a British citizen of Indian origin whose family migrated from what was then East Pakistan to India, described the situation as extremely serious. He urged both India and the United Kingdom to take firm action, warning that many innocent Hindus are at risk. He also pointed out that Western media has largely overlooked the lynching of Dipu Das, leaving much of the British public unaware of the hardships faced by Hindus in Bangladesh.