Petition in Bangladesh court for banning ISKCON

Student leaders in Bangladesh call for immediate ban on ISKCON after monk's arrest, sparking international concern and political responses.

A day after the arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong, student leaders of Bangladesh have called for the banning of the outfit “immediately”. The remarks from the top student leaders who are an important block of support for the interim government led by Prof Mohammad Yunus came on a day when a High Court in Bangladesh admitted a petition seeking ba an on the Hindu outfit.

The arrest of Mr. Das continued to evoke strong sentiment from India with newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi calling on the Government of India to “intervene” and ensure safety and security for the minority community in Bangladesh.

Student coordinators of the public movement that overthrew the Sheikh Hasina government in August visited Chittagong on Wednesday and participated in a protest rally against ISKCON. “ISKCON is acting as an agent of the Awami League, attempting to destabilize the country,” said student coordinator Hasnat Abdullah addressing the rally. 

They also demanded the arrest of the killers of an assistant public prosecutor who was murdered in the clashes that took place while the police arrested Mr. Das on Tuesday (November 26, 2024).

In the meanwhile, authorities have arrested at least six individuals based on CCTV footage of Tuesday’s (November 26, 2024)violence. The arrested individuals have been described by the police as belonging to the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. Chhatra League was banned by the interim government in October. 

Responding to the allegations, ISKCON has issued several statements alleging witch-hunt and discrimination. The Vaishnavite organisation urged the government of Bangladesh to ensure “peaceful coexistence” of religious communities in Bangladesh. 

“We express our serious concern and strongly denounce the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. We also condemn the subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various regions of Bangladesh,” said ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Charu Chandra Das. He also alleged that several attacks have taken place targeting the places of worship belonging to the minority Hindu community in the backdrop of worsening communal tension in the country.