Sri Lankan Politician Condemns Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh: 'India's Role Is Pivotal'

Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 16:50 IST

Sri Lankan entrepreneur Barath Arullsamy said Bangladesh's interim government must ensure the protection of the minorities and that India's role was pivotal to regional stability.

Bangladesh is under global scrutiny for a wave of attacks against minorities. (AFP)

Amid global outcry over targeted violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Barath Arullsamy, the vice president of Sri Lanka’s Democratic People’s Front (DPF), has condemned such attacks, saying a democracy is only as strong as its protection for vulnerable communities.

The DPF is a prominent member of the Tamil Progressive Alliance and a key partner of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya coalition. Arullsamy is a policy entrepreneur and serves as the Chairman of the Plantation Human Development Trust, a tripartite organisation comprising the Government of Sri Lanka, plantation companies, and trade unions.

“True regional strength is not measured merely by economic alliances, but by the safety of the individual citizen. The recent reports of targeted violence against minorities in Bangladesh, exemplified by the tragic killing of Khokan Das & 6 minorities, are a sombre reminder of the work ahead. A democracy is only as strong as its protection of its most vulnerable," he said.

“For South Asia to truly thrive, the Interim Government (Bangladesh) must ensure that secularism is more than a promise, it must be a reality on the ground. No citizen should fear for their life because of their faith. Regional stability is a shared lifeline," he added.

Arullsamy further said India’s role is pivotal in fostering a convergence where peace and human rights are non-negotiable. “We cannot overcome current turmoils if we allow extremism to fracture our communities. If South Asia wishes to project collective influence on the global stage, we must first prove we can protect human rights at home," he further said.

Attacks On Bangladeshi Hindus

Arullsamy’s remarks came as Bangladesh has come under global scrutiny following widespread protests after the murder of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Several Hindus in Bangladesh have been the victims of mob lynchings and other forms of targeted violence.

A young factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob and his body was set on fire in an alarming display of lawlessness and mobocracy in the country. On December 31, Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das was stabbed and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur district. He escaped the attack by jumping in a pond but later died from burn injuries in hospital.

READ MORE: Another Hindu Youth Beaten, Poisoned To Death In Bangladesh As Violence Continues

This week, a Hindu grocery shop owner and a journalist were killed in Bangladesh within a 24-hour period. Sarat Chakraborty Mani was running his grocery shop as usual at Charsindur Bazaar in Palash upazila of Narsingdi district when unidentified assailants suddenly attacked him with sharp weapons.

Last month, Malaysia’s Parliament voiced strong support for the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Malaysian MP SN Rayer told CNN-News18 that Dipu Chandra’s killing had deeply disturbed legislators across party lines and prompted calls for tougher measures, including possible restrictions on Bangladeshi visas and entry into Malaysia.

“It is imperative that the government of Bangladesh takes steps to ensure the protection of all minority communities and prevent the recurrence of such atrocities," Rayer said.

Meanwhile, UK MP Priti Patel has written a letter to British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, calling on the UK to use its influence and convening powers to bring stability in the country. “The situation in Bangladesh is very concerning. Religious freedoms should be protected and the murders of Hindus and persecution taking place are wrong and must stop," Patel said, expressing concern over increasing religious violence and persecution in Bangladesh.

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