The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has strongly condemned the organization of cricket matches between India and Bangladesh, calling it a disgraceful act that deepens the wounds of Hindus while atrocities against them in Bangladesh persist. The Samiti has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to immediately cancel all India-Bangladesh cricket matches, as well as cultural programs featuring Bangladeshi artists, until these attacks on Hindus are halted. A statement regarding this was submitted by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti to the Special Executive Officer of the ‘Board of Control for Cricket in India’ (BCCI). On this occasion, Advocate Anish Paralkar of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mr. Vinayak Shinde of the Manav Seva Pratishthan, Advocate Rahul Patkar, Mr. Ravindra Dasari, and Mr. Sandeep Tulsakar was present. A copy of this statement has also been submitted to the Prime Minister of India, Hon. Narendra Modi, the Union Sports Minister, and the External Affairs Minister.
The statement submitted by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti highlights that India is set to host two Test matches and three T20Is against Bangladesh from September 19 to October 12, 2024, in cities such as Chennai, Kanpur, Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad. Meanwhile, the Hindu community in Bangladesh continues to face relentless attacks, with 230 reported deaths and incidents of anti-Hindu violence across 52 of the 64 districts. Following the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government, these attacks have intensified, especially in rural areas where Hindus live in constant fear. Recently, a young Hindu, Utsav Mandal, was brutally assaulted by a Jihadi mob inside a police station over alleged blasphemy charges, further illustrating the ongoing violence and persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti emphasized that just as Muslim countries unite and strongly oppose any attacks on the Muslim community, India should adopt a similar stance against the violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh. “While fanatical Jihadis in Bangladesh openly kill Hindus, burn their homes, vandalize temples, seize land, and rape Hindu women, how can we play cricket matches with them? We will never tolerate this,” the committee stated. They demand immediate cancellation of the matches until the safety and dignity of Hindus in Bangladesh is ensured.