The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh | Explained

The arrest of Vaishnavite leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh has sparked protests, violence, and international concern over minority rights and religious freedom

The story so far: The Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday (November 25, 2024) arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Vaishnavite leader and one-time member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, prompting protests demandng his release in Dhaka’s Shahbag neighbourhood and Chittagong, where he is based.

Clashes have since intensified. On November 26, assistant public prosecutor Saiful Islam, the lawyer of Chinmoy Krishna Das, was killed during clashes between the security personnel and followers of the Hindu leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chittagong court, police said. Based on CCTV footage of the violence, authorities have reportedly arrested at least six people belonging to the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League which was banned by the government in October.

The same day, a war of words broke out between India and Bangladesh after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the arrest and denial of bail for Mr. Das as “unfortunate” and expressed “deep concern” over incidents targeting minority communities in Bangladesh. The MEA’s statement called upon the interim government of Bangladesh to “ensure safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.”

Bangladesh responded to MEA’s statement by alleging that it misrepresented facts and was “contrary” to the friendly ties between the two neighbours.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, also known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, is a monk leading the Pundarik Dham in Chittagong/Chattogram, a key centre for Vaishnavites in Bangladesh. He is also the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, a Sanatani organisation. Mr. Das was a member of ISKCON till recently, when he was expelled.

Mr. Das, who has a considerable following in Bangladesh, has regularly advocated for the rights of religious minorities, and has garnered particular attention after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024. Since then, Mr. Das has engaged in dialogue with various political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), urging communal harmony. In a press conference held earlier this month, Mr. Das alleged that the interim government under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Mohammad Yunus had failed to stop at least 3,000 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Mr. Das has advocated for the implementation of an eight-point list of demands for Hindus in Bangladesh. These include the stablishment of a special tribunal for swift trials in cases of minority persecution, enactment of a minority protection law, the creation of a Ministry for Minority Affairs, laws to recover and protect temple properties and enforcement of the Vested Property Act, prayer rooms in educational institutions, modernization of Sanskrit and Pali Education Boards and a five-day public holiday for Durga Puja, an important festival for Bengali Hindus.