Sydney witnessed a large and passionate protest on Friday, 4 July 2025, as members of the Bangladeshi community and supporters gathered at Martin Place to condemn the ongoing persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh.
Organised by the Australian Forum for Ethnic and Religious Minorities in Bangladesh (AFERMB), representing 24 community organisations across Australia, the rally ran from noon to 2 pm.
Demonstrators carried banners, placards, and the Bangladeshi national flag, chanting slogans against the brutal attacks, unlawful detentions, rapes, and destruction targeting minorities in Bangladesh.
AFERMB director Amal Dutta opened the event by outlining the protest’s aims and detailing recent incidents of violence against Hindus and other minority groups.
Speakers condemned the interim government led by Prof. Mohammad Yunus for exacerbating violence through mob instigation and militant forces, contributing to a significant decline in the Hindu population since Bangladesh’s independence.
Among the atrocities highlighted were the ongoing detention of Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on false charges, the demolition of a Durga temple along with its sacred idols, the torture and imprisonment of an elderly Hindu barber and his son over blasphemy allegations, and the rape of a Hindu woman in Muradnagar, followed by the circulation of the video online.
Speakers expressed shock that such violations could occur in today’s civilised world and warned of the broader impact these events could have globally, including in Australia. They called on the Australian government and international bodies to take urgent action to pressure Bangladesh’s government to protect minority rights.
At the rally’s conclusion, AFERMB Executive President Surajit Roy presented an 11-point demand list. Key demands included the immediate release of Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, prosecution of those responsible for recent attacks and abuses, protection for human rights activists, and the establishment of a special independent tribunal to investigate the crimes against minorities and publish its findings.
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