A delegation from the Australian Federation for Ethnic and Religious Minorities in Bangladesh (AFERMB) met with Senator Maria Kovacic, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition, to express grave concerns over the escalating religious persecution and extremism unfolding in Bangladesh on 7th July 2025 at the Hindu Bhavan (Hindu Hub).AFERMB highlighted that Australia, as a proud liberal democracy and a founding member of the Commonwealth, upholds the core values of secularism, the rule of law, and religious freedom, values that are increasingly under threat in Bangladesh. In recent months, there has been a disturbing rise in violence, intimidation, and displacement targeting Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and indigenous minority communities.
The delegation drew particular attention to the persecution of human rights defenders, such as Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who is facing false and politically motivated legal charges. Such actions are part of a broader pattern where voices advocating for minority rights are being systematically silenced through judicial harassment, mob violence, and a culture of impunity, creating a climate of fear for vulnerable communities.
AFERMB sincerely thanks Senator Kovacic for her time, empathy, and her ongoing commitment to human rights and religious freedom. The delegation urges all Australian policymakers to engage both diplomatically and morally in supporting the principles of pluralism, secularism, and the rule of law in Bangladesh.
