Hindu Priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Arrested In Bangladesh
In the latest act of violence against the Hindus in Bangladesh, ISKCON Chittagong’s head priest Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested further escalating the Hindu protests in the country.
Bangladesh is currently facing a major crisis after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country. There is no functioning government at the moment, and Muhammad Yunus has stepped in as the Chief Adviser. Since Yunus took over, reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh have been increasing. The latest incident involves the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, the head of an ISKCON temple in Chittagong and a spokesperson for Bangladesh Sommilito Sanatan Jagaran Jot, an organization that fights for the rights of Hindus and other minorities. Das has been actively involved in rallies demanding protection for Hindus in the country. On 25 October, Das attended a rally in Chattogram where he allegedly placed a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag, sparking anger among many who viewed it as disrespectful. On 30 October, a political leader named Firoz Khan filed a case against Das and 18 others for insulting the national flag, though no arrests were made at the time. On 22 November, Das spoke at a large rally in Rangpur, strongly condemning violence against Hindus, which stirred controversy. As a result, Das was arrested on 25 November at Dhaka’s main airport. His arrest sparked protests across the country, particularly in Chittagong, where thousands gathered, demanding his release. The protests turned violent, with stone-throwing and clashes with the police, who used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Tragically, a young lawyer named Saiful Islam died during the clashes. Despite being in jail, Chinmoy Krishna Das continues to receive support from his community. The high court has instructed the police to allow him all religious rights while in custody. However, his bail was denied by a local court, and his next bail hearing was scheduled for 28 November, but there have been no updates as of now. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, has condemned the violence and urged people to remain calm. Meanwhile, ISKCON Bangladesh has condemned the arrest and called on the government to protect Hindus and ensure their peaceful coexistence. The Bangladesh government has also faced criticism from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which expressed concern over the increasing attacks on Hindus and minorities. The statement highlighted the ongoing violence, including looting, arson, and desecration of temples, while noting that those responsible for the attacks remain free. This rise in violence has also affected Bangladesh's international image. During the recent IPL Auction, no team bid for Bangladeshi players, possibly due to the ongoing issues in the country. In the midst of all this, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been in India for over 100 days, staying in a high-security area in Delhi. Stay tuned to ISH News for further updates on this developing story.
