Former head of the Worldwide Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh was charged with sedition on Monday, which sparked India’s intervention with the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) calling the incident “Unlucky”.
At the least one individual additionally misplaced his life in clashes between safety forces and Hindus protesting towards the arrest of the non secular chief, police stated, at the same time as New Delhi urged that the security of Hindus and minorities be ensured.
“A Muslim lawyer defending Das was killed amid protests exterior the courtroom (in Chittagong),” stated police officer Liaquat Ali, Reuters reported.
Chandan Kumar Dhar, often known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON chief, and the spokesperson of the nation’s Sanatan Jagaran Manch in addition to the pinnacle of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong was detained on Monday at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal Worldwide Airport, based on The Each day Star.
Why the Arrest
A workforce of detectives reportedly apprehended Chinmoy Krishna Das in reference to a sedition case filed in Chattogram. Rezaul Karim Mallick, further commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and chief of the Detective Department, confirmed the arrest.
The sedition case, lodged on October 31 at Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram, named 18 people, together with Das, who beforehand served as ISKCON’s divisional organising secretary in Chattogram. Based on The Each day Star, the criticism was filed by Firoz Khan, the then-general secretary of Mohora Ward Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP). Khan alleged that Bangladesh’s nationwide flag was disrespected throughout a rally in Chattogram’s New Market space.
“The interim authorities is dedicated to making sure and upholding communal concord in Bangladesh at any price,” Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus-led authorities stated ordering a probe within the case.
When Das was being escorted again to jail from courtroom, greater than 2,000 supporters surrounded the van, blocking it for over two hours, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz, stated, as per a report by Reuters.
“They went on a rampage, throwing bricks at us. To disperse the group, we needed to hearth tear fuel. Nobody was severely injured, however considered one of our constables was damage,” Aziz stated.
ISKCON Condemns the Arrest
ISKCON has denounced the costs as baseless and known as for Chinmoy Krishna Das’s instant launch. The organisation emphasised its peaceable rules and denied any connection to terrorism.
In a put up on X, ISKCON acknowledged: “We have now come throughout disturbing stories that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of many distinguished leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It’s outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has something to do with terrorism wherever on the planet. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Authorities of India to take instant steps and converse to the Authorities of Bangladesh and convey that we’re a peace-loving Bhakti motion. We would like the Authorities of Bangladesh to launch Chinmoy Krishna Das instantly. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the safety of those devotees.”
The detention has highlighted rising issues concerning the therapy of non secular minorities and raised questions on freedom of expression and the security of Hindu leaders in Bangladesh.
India’s response
India has expressed “deep concern” over the arrest of the Hindu chief. With New Delhi, saying in a sternly worded assertion that the perpetrators of documented vandalism and arson towards minorities in addition to those that desecrated deities remained at massive.
“We have now famous with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who can also be the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the a number of assaults on Hindus and different minorities by extremist components in Bangladesh… It’s unlucky that whereas the perpetrators of those incidents stay at massive, expenses ought to be pressed towards a non secular chief presenting respectable calls for by peaceable gatherings,” the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) stated on Tuesday (November 26).
Bangladesh’s response
The Authorities of Bangladesh on Tuesday stated that the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, has been “misconstrued”, including that the seer had been arrested on particular expenses.
In an announcement, Bangladesh stated that guaranteeing the security and safety of all residents, “notably the members of non secular minorities”, stays an obligation of the nation’s interim authorities.
“It’s with utter dismay and deep sense of damage that the Authorities of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by sure quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on particular expenses,” the assertion, launched by the nation’s overseas affairs ministry, stated.
Bangladesh stated that India’s assertion “fully disregards” the truth that the Bangladesh authorities “is set to conclusively finish the tradition of impunity to the perpetrators of gross human rights violations” towards its residents. It added that the nation desires to deal with the non secular majorities and minorities equally.
Whereas stating that the judiciary in Bangladesh features independently, the nation stated that its authorities doesn’t intervene in its work. “The matter below query is at current being handled by the courtroom of regulation,” the Bangladesh authorities stated.
