Hindu monks gather at Petrapole border to protest against arrest of spiritual leaders in Bangladesh

Monks protest arrests in Bangladesh, ISKCON members denied entry, Bangladeshi nationals return, protests held globally by ISKCON.

Hundreds of monks have started gathering at Petrapole on the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas on Monday (December 2, 2024) to protest against the arrest of spiritual leaders in Bangladesh.

The protests have been called by the West Bengal unit of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samity, and a spokesperson of the order said that they will not leave the border till the government of the neighbouring country acts to protect the interest of religious minorities. The spokesperson said that similar protests will be organised in Siliguri.

Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is expected to take part in the protest at Petrapole, the largest international checkpost between India and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals who were in India for treatment or were visiting relatives are returning. There was a large crowd at Petrapole waiting to cross over to Bangladesh. They said that they were not sure about the situation in the country but had to return as their visas had expired.

The ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) spokesperson in Kolkata said Bangladesh has stopped as many as 63 of their Brahmacharis from entering the country from India. “They had all valid Indian visa and other documents. But Bangladeshi Border Police said that Bangladeshi Intelligence has told them not to allow them to enter India,” said Radharamn Das, vice president and spokesperson of ISKCON Kolkata.

The religious body organised several processions and prayer meetings in different parts of West Bengal on Sunday (December 3, 2024) to protest the arrest of monks of the order in Bangladesh.

After Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in Dhaka on November 25, three other monks have been arrested, according to Radharam Das,