Press Xpress
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • Geopolitics
  • Politics
  • Election
    • US Election
    • UK Election
    • India Election
  • Diplomacy
  • International
  • STEM
  • More
    • Art & Culture
    • Business
    • CrossBorder
    • Diary
    • Economy
    • Bangladesh
      • Agriculture
    • Interview
    • Security
    • Sports and Entertainment
Press Xpress
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • Geopolitics
  • Politics
  • Election
    • US Election
    • UK Election
    • India Election
  • Diplomacy
  • International
  • STEM
  • More
    • Art & Culture
    • Business
    • CrossBorder
    • Diary
    • Economy
    • Bangladesh
      • Agriculture
    • Interview
    • Security
    • Sports and Entertainment
LOGIN
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Top Posts
Canada Includes Duty-Free access for Bangladesh till 2034
Is the United States Changing its Tune on Bangladesh?
FAIR POLLS, ELECTION COMMISSION’S OPTIMUM ROLE AND EVM USE
NIGHTMARE RETURNS
No to BNP’s Violence: US Press Sec. Vedant Patel
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY UPDATE: WHERE DOES BANGLADESH STAND?
Boycotting EC’s Dialogue, BNP Proves Incompetence Again
IMPACT OF EXTERNAL DEBT ON BANGLADESH ECONOMY
AWAMI LEAGUE GENERAL SECRETARY: WHO’S NEXT?
ASHRAYAN PROJECT: A ‘SHEIKH HASINA MODEL’ FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
ROLE OF NGOs: CHARITY OR BUSINESS?
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Press Xpress
Press Xpress
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • Geopolitics
  • Politics
  • Election
    • US Election
    • UK Election
    • India Election
  • Diplomacy
  • International
  • STEM
  • More
    • Art & Culture
    • Business
    • CrossBorder
    • Diary
    • Economy
    • Bangladesh
      • Agriculture
    • Interview
    • Security
    • Sports and Entertainment
SUBSCRIBE NOW LOGIN

© 2022 PressXpress All Right Reserved.
Bangladesh

Washington Flags Religious Persecution, Terror Concerns in Bangladesh

by Press Xpress March 17, 2025
written by Press Xpress March 17, 2025
Share 0FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
95

The United States has raised fresh concerns over Bangladesh’s escalating religious violence and the growing influence of Islamist extremism. US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, in an exclusive interview with NDTV World, emphasized the Trump administration’s focus on dismantling Islamist terror networks worldwide, with Bangladesh now a key area of concern.

Religious Persecution and Political Unrest

Bangladesh has witnessed a disturbing surge in attacks on religious minorities, with Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian communities bearing the brunt of extremist violence. Gabbard did not mince words when she said, “The longtime unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others has been a major area of concern for the US government and President Trump.”

Her remarks come at a time of heightened instability in Bangladesh, where the overthrow of the Awami League government last August has led to a vacuum increasingly exploited by Islamist groups. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) recently reported 88 cases of religious violence in just a few months, with entire communities facing arson attacks, mob lynchings, and forced displacement.

The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been criticized for its inaction. While Yunus has acknowledged the violence, his government’s failure to rein in extremist elements has only deepened fears of a larger sectarian conflict.

Bangladesh-Pakistan Nexus Raises Alarm in India

Beyond the persecution of minorities, US officials are also monitoring Bangladesh’s growing ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Reports of ISI operatives operating within Bangladesh, particularly near India’s strategic Siliguri Corridor, have raised concerns in New Delhi. Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi recently underscored the threat, stating, “We must ensure that anti-India elements do not use Bangladeshi soil to facilitate terrorist activities.”

With increasing evidence of terrorist networks gaining ground in Bangladesh, India’s security establishment is on high alert. Intelligence reports suggest that radical groups have used Bangladesh as a safe haven, potentially fueling cross-border insurgencies in India’s northeastern states.

The ‘Islamic Caliphate’ Vision and Global Terrorism

Gabbard’s most striking warning focused on the global Islamist movement’s ideological drive toward an Islamic Caliphate. She stated, “The threat of Islamist terrorists and the global effort of different terror groups are rooted in the same ideology – to establish an Islamist Caliphate.”

Her remarks align with concerns that Bangladesh is becoming a battleground for radical groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, which has historically pushed for an Islamic state. Minority communities have become the prime targets of this agenda, facing forced conversions, land grabs, and violence aimed at erasing non-Muslim presence from the country.

A chilling example is the case of Pastor Sirajul, a Christian convert who narrowly escaped abduction and assassination. His home was surrounded by a militant mob on September 25, and he was warned that he could be attacked “any place, any time.” Other incidents include entire Hindu villages being burned down and families driven into exile.

India and US Step Up Counterterrorism Cooperation

With Bangladesh’s security situation deteriorating, India and the US have ramped up intelligence-sharing efforts. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently met with Gabbard in New Delhi to discuss counterterrorism strategies. Key areas of collaboration include cyber intelligence, terror financing crackdowns, and cross-border security.

New Delhi is also pressuring Dhaka to take decisive action against Islamist groups, particularly those suspected of having links with Pakistan. The arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh last month has further fueled unrest, with Hindu groups calling for stronger protections against rising extremism.

Trump’s Response: A Hands-Off Approach?

Despite US intelligence concerns, President Donald Trump has indicated that he prefers India to take the lead on Bangladesh. During a February meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump remarked, “This is something the Prime Minister has been working on for a long time. Frankly, I have been reading about it. I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister.”

This hands-off approach signals a shift in US policy, with Washington appearing to defer to New Delhi’s regional influence. However, with the situation in Bangladesh deteriorating rapidly, it remains to be seen whether the US will maintain this stance or take a more active role in shaping the crisis response.

The Future of Religious Freedom in Bangladesh

The persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh is not new. The Hindu population, which once made up 22% of the country in the 1940s, has dwindled to less than 8% today, a direct consequence of decades of religious violence and systematic discrimination.

Under the interim government, extremist factions seem to be gaining unprecedented power, raising fears of further attacks. Christian organizations and Hindu advocacy groups are calling for international intervention before the crisis spirals further out of control.

As Gabbard prepares to address the Raisina Dialogue on March 18, her remarks on Bangladesh are expected to be closely analyzed. For now, religious minorities in Bangladesh remain under siege, bracing for an uncertain future in a nation rapidly shifting toward Islamist dominance.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
important
Avatar photo
Press Xpress

Expressing news & enlightening thoughts through neutral, clear and concise narration and beyond. All in a single platform.

previous post
Trump Signals Possible Ukraine Ceasefire as Russia Sets Conditions
next post
Cambodia and India Deepen Healthcare Ties Through Policy and Digital Innovation

You may also like

NCP’s ‘March to Gopalganj’: State’s  80 Crore Taka...

July 26, 2025

Bangladesh Security Forces Accused of Brutality Amid Student...

July 22, 2025

From the Sky Came Fire: Bangladesh Military’s Shameful...

July 22, 2025

GOPALGANJ MASSACRE: A Nation Bleeds While a Regime...

July 19, 2025

You’ve Lost the People”: Bangladesh Army Faces Historic...

July 18, 2025

Bloodbath in Gopalganj: Army Opens Fire on Civilians...

July 16, 2025

Recent Posts

  • NCP’s ‘March to Gopalganj’: State’s  80 Crore Taka Questioned

    July 26, 2025
  • Bangladesh Security Forces Accused of Brutality Amid Student Protests Over Crash Casualties

    July 22, 2025
  • From the Sky Came Fire: Bangladesh Military’s Shameful Role in Milestone School Tragedy

    July 22, 2025
  • Air Force Training Aircraft Jet Crashes into Milestone College Campus in Dhaka, Many Feared Dead

    July 21, 2025
  • GOPALGANJ MASSACRE: A Nation Bleeds While a Regime Consolidates Power

    July 19, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe PressXpress Newsletter for new posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Contact

  • Business Centre, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • Email: info@pressxpress.org
    px.pressxpress@gmail.com
  • Support: contact@pressxpress.org

Press Xpress

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us

Privacy

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Register New Account
© 2024 Press Xpress All Right Reserved.
Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube
Press Xpress
  • Home