The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) to address alleged targeted attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. According to the RSS, these attacks are prompting a mass exodus of Hindu families seeking refuge in India.

The petition, filed by the RSS’s intellectual wing Prajna Pravah, claims that over 1.5 million Hindus and other minority refugees are fleeing Bangladesh. It urges the UNHRC to facilitate safe passage for these refugees and provide necessary humanitarian assistance. The petition, which has garnered over three lakh signatures, includes documentation of 50 cases of severe human rights violations against Hindus in Bangladesh. 

Monika Arora, a member of Prajna Pravah, emphasized the need for the UNHRC to engage with the Bangladeshi government to ensure the protection of minority communities and uphold human rights.

Contrary to these claims, the Indian government maintains strict border controls with Bangladesh. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been instructed to prevent any undocumented immigrants from entering India, irrespective of their religion. On August 9, the BSF reportedly thwarted an attempt by approximately 1,700 Bangladeshis to enter India.

The petition also highlights concerns about the declining Hindu population in Bangladesh, referencing census data that shows a decrease from 10% in 2011 to roughly 8% in 2022. “According to the 2022 national census, Muslims constitute about 91 per cent of the population, while Hindus make up roughly 8 per cent. This marks a slight shift from the 2011 census, where Muslims were recorded at 89 per cent and Hindus at 10 per cent. The plight of other minorities is also the same and they are also declining in numbers,” it says. 

The RSS hopes that international pressure through the UNHRC will prompt the Bangladeshi government to take stronger measures to protect its minority populations.