Indian origin Canadian MP raises issue of violence against Bangladeshi minorities
Chandra Arya on Tuesday raised the issue of violence against minorities in Bangladesh in Canadian Parliament in what was the first such statement in a Parliament in the West since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in early August.
“I am deeply concerned by violence targeting religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians in Bangladesh. Every time there is instability in Bangladesh, religious minorities, particularly Hindus, face the brunt. The share of religious minorities in the population of Bangladesh has significantly decreased since it achieved its independence in 1971,” Arya pointed out in his statement.
“From 23.1%, including about 20% Hindus, it has now come down to just about 9.6%, including about 8.5% Hindus. Canadian Hindus who have families in Bangladesh are concerned about the security and safety of their families, their temples and properties,” Arya claimed, adding, “They will be holding a rally on Parliament Hill next Monday, September 23, to highlight the current situation there. They will be joined by Canadian Buddhists and Christians who have families in Bangladesh.”
Arya had recently visited India and among others had met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Arya, a member of the Liberal Party, is a MP since 2015 and currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade.
Meanwhile, a fact-finding team from the United Nations' human rights watchdog has arrived in Dhaka, to investigate the violence against minorities. The United Nations Human
