EU must hold bangladesh accountable for minority rights violations

19th February 2025 | EU Parliament | ROOM: ASE-3

Live-stream Link Included: https://youtube.com/live/NraptRAAwog?feature=share

Brussels, Belgium – Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) is raising urgent concerns

about the alarming state of minority rights in Bangladesh and calls on the European

Union (EU) to take decisive action. As Bangladesh continues to receive increased

financial support from the EU—including €400 million in renewable energy investments

and a planned €2 billion funding boost from the European Investment Bank—the EU

must ensure that every euro is subject to strict oversight and tied to concrete

improvements in human rights.

Speakers

1. MEP Miriam LEXMANN

2. MEP Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

3. MEP Giusi PRINCI

4. MEP Serban-Dimitrie STURDZA

5. MEP Alessandra MORETTI

6. MEP Rosa ESTERÀS FERRAGUT

7. Himanschu Gulati, Member of the Norwegian Parliament

8. PROF Chandon Sarkar (online)

9. John Erik Selle, Member of the Norwegian Parliament

Moderator

10. Manal, Msalmi, President of the European Association for the Defence of

Minorities

Opening Speech

11. Idil Igdir, Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) Human Rights Advisor and

Advocate

Bangladesh 2025 Minorities situation

Systematic Human Rights Violations Ignored: The recent UN report on human

rights violations in Bangladesh have been widely criticised for their biased and selective

reporting. The report, allegedly influenced by fundamentalist groups and political actors,

has completely ignored atrocities such as:• The killing of 3,000 police officers

• Attacks on over 400 minority homes

• Public lynchings, where victims were hung from footbridges

• The systematic looting and burning of properties belonging to religious and

ethnic minorities

Despite being a signatory to multiple international human rights treaties, Bangladesh has

failed to uphold its commitments, particularly regarding the protection of minorities.

Urgent Justice for Persecuted Minorities

We call on the EU to immediately condition its financial support to Bangladesh on

concrete human rights benchmarks:

1. Protection for minorities – Stop religious and ethnic persecution.

2. Justice for victims – Ensure fair trials for those responsible for rape, murder,

and destruction of minority properties.

3. Return all illegally seized lands – Restore illegally seized properties to rightful

minority owners.

4. Reinstate dismissed workers – Ensure minorities who were unjustly fired

regain employment.

Case of Chinmoy Krishna Das – A Test of Justice

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das on 25 November 2024 is yet another example of

the injustice faced by minorities in Bangladesh. His case, along with others, must be

addressed urgently and transparently by the Bangladeshi High Court.

The actions that EU can take :

The European Union cannot continue providing billions of euros to Bangladesh without

demanding accountability. GHRD urges the EU Parliament to:

• Adopt a resolution condemning the violence, human rights violations, and

democratic backsliding in Bangladesh, as these contradict the fundamental values

the EU upholds.

GHRD also calls on the European Commission and Council of the EU to:

• Review and condition financial aid on measurable human rights

improvements.

• Consider imposing sanctions (restrictive measures) to promote democracy,

human rights and international law.

The international community can no longer turn a blind eye. The time for action is now.

For more information, visit: www.ghrd.org

Media Contact:

Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD)

info@ghrtv.org