UK Lawmakers Host Seminar on Hindus in Bangladesh
A House of Commons session examined the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh and prospects for unity, peace and justice.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Hinduism
On 3 November 2026, a seminar titled 'Hope for Unity, Peace and Justice: The Situation of Hindus in Bangladesh' was held in Committee Room 14 of the UK House of Commons. The event was hosted by Jas Athwal MP and sponsored by The Secular Bangladesh Movement, UK.
Why it matters
The seminar brought the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh into a formal parliamentary setting in the UK, where lawmakers and advocates could raise the issue directly. It reflects ongoing efforts by diaspora and civil society groups to press for secularism, democracy and human rights in Bangladesh.
The seminar featured a four-speaker main panel and was held in Committee Room 14 of the House of Commons. No further quantitative figures were reported in the seminar materials.
The players
Jas Athwal MP
Jas Athwal is the Member of Parliament for Ilford South and hosted the seminar in the House of Commons.
The Secular Bangladesh Movement, UK
The Secular Bangladesh Movement, UK is a diaspora advocacy group that promotes secularism, democracy and human rights for all in Bangladesh.
Gurinder Josan MP
Gurinder Josan is the Member of Parliament for Smethwick who joined the seminar discussion.
The details
The programme opened with a welcome from Jas Athwal MP, followed by a panel discussion and an interactive question-and-answer session with audience participation. Speakers included Dr. Nowrin Tamanna of the University of Reading School of Law, Pushpita Gupta of the Secular Bangladesh Movement UK, human rights activist Rana Meher, and Cllr Jasmin Chowdhury of Public Health Wales.
Timeline
3 November 2026: Seminar held in Committee Room 14 of the House of Commons.
Global Context
The seminar's call for secularism in Bangladesh is measured against the secular principle written into Bangladesh's own constitution, with diaspora advocates in the UK pressing for that commitment to be honored in practice.
Readers following Hindu communities and minority rights in South Asia can track how parliamentary advocacy in the UK may shape public debate on the issue. The seminar offers a formal venue where community concerns are raised with elected representatives.
The takeaway
Parliamentary seminars can give diaspora communities a direct channel to lawmakers on human rights concerns abroad. Readers interested in the issue can follow subsequent parliamentary activity and advocacy statements to see whether these discussions lead to concrete action.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Hinduism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Weekly Bangla Mirror |.
