Chinmoy Krishna Das, the Hindu Face of Minority Rights Movement in Bangladesh Arrested.

ISKCON Monk Spearheading Hindu Rights Campaign In Bangladesh Taken Into Custody By Dhaka Police. Protests erupt.

Upendra Bharati | HENB | New Delhi | Nov 25, 20234:: The prominent Hindu face of Minority Rights in Bangladesh,  Shripad Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of ISKCON Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The detention occurred at 4:30 pm and was confirmed by Additional Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallik of the DB.

“He was detained based on a requisition following a complaint. He will be handed over to the designated police station accordingly,” Mallik said, as quoted by Dhaka Tribune. However, he did not elaborate on the specific allegations against Brahmachari Chinmoy Krishna Das.

This move follows a sedition case filed against him and 18 others on October 30 at Kotwali Police Station. The case alleges that Chinmoy and others hoisted a saffron flag associated with ISKCON above Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally on October 25.

The rally at Laldighi Maidan, where the alleged incident occurred, was part of an advocacy campaign led by Chinmoy Krishna on behalf of Bangladesh’s Hindu community. The campaign included demands to end minority persecution in the country.

Chinmoy Prabhu Was Supposed To Fly From Dhaka to Chattogram

Swatantra Gauranga Das Brahmachari, a leader from the alliance, told bdnews24.com, “Chinmoy Prabhu was supposed to fly from Dhaka to Chattogram. We have heard that police picked him up from the airport.”

A Facebook page linked to ISKCON Pundarik Dham shared a photo of Chinmoy Krishna Das, claiming he was “picked up by individuals identifying as DB police from Dhaka airport.”

Another Facebook post accompanying a video reads, “Chinmay Krishna Das Brahmachari has been taken to DB from Dhaka Airport in a car Ch-521161.”

Protesting the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, Hindus in Bangladesh started protests in various parts of Bangladesh including Dhaka.

As per available report, the Jihadi elements attacked protesting Hindus in Dhaka’s Shahbagh, where many Hindus were injured by Muslim goons. Hindus also came down to streets at Mymensingh, Coxbazar and Khulna with a demand to release Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu immediately.

As the news of the arrest spread out, a huge meeting was started in Cheragi in Chattogram (Chittagong) in the afternoon with a demand to free Chinmony Krishna Das unconditionally.

Read also: Jai Shri Ram Echoes in Chittagong as Protests Erupt in Bangladesh Over Chimoy Prabhu’s Arrest

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das sparked a row in India also. Radharamn Das, a prominent ISKCON leader and spokesperson in its Kolkata Chapter sought an intervention of Government of India to free Chinmoy Krishna Das from the hands of Islamist operatives in Bangladesh interim Government.

Taking his X handle, Radharamn Das wrote: “I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in this difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location”.

In his X post, Radharamn also drew the attention of Indian Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Bangladesh High Commissioner in Dhaka in this matter.

From ISKCON Inc.’s X handle, the ISKCON autority has also posted, “It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON,Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement. “

The persecution of Hindus and suppression of minority rights in Bangladesh intensified following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, amidst allegations that the country was being steered towards a Sharia state under the influence of pro-Hefazat and Jamaat fundamentalists.
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_Inputs from bdnews24, Dhaka Tribune & Republic World.