US candlelight vigil over violence against Bangla minorities

Members of the South Asian community held a candlelight vigil at the historic Dupont Circle to protest against the recent spate of murders targetting minorities in Bangladesh.
The attendees represented various organisations including the US chapter of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the World Hindu Council of America, along with the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) and LGBT leaders.
Tapan Dutta of BHBCUC-USA expressed dismay at the continuing atrocities against Hindus.
He urged Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take stronger measures to secure the homes, temples, and the lives of the country's indigenous Hindu community.

Toufique Hassan, Senior Counsellor at the Embassy of Bangladesh, said in his address to the people who had gathered that Prime Minister Hasina "adheres firmly to a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, and violent extremism."
There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

Jay Kansara, HAF director of Government Relations said "we won't let the people of Bangladesh stand alone as they confront Islamist extremism".
He encouraged attendees to call their US Representative to support H. Res.396. Introduced by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in July 2015 which is intended to bring attention to growing Islamist extremism, especially the ongoing nefarious activities of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated groups.

Hindu and other minority leaders hope that the legislation would be amended to reflect incidences and developing trends that have occurred since its inception.