UK Body Seeks Tulsi Gabbard’s Help in Releasing Jailed ISKCON Monk in Bangladesh.

Free Jailed ISKCON Monk: UK Group Urges Tulsi Gabbard to Intervene in Bangladesh Case of Hindu persecution. 

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent ISKCON monk, has become the face of persecution in Bangladesh after his arrest on sedition charges on November 25 last year.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Feb 18, 2025:: A UK-based organization, ‘Secular Bangladesh Movement – UK’, has reached out to Tulsi Gabbard, the newly appointed US Director of National Intelligence, to intervene in the case of Chinmoy Krishna Das, an ISKCON monk imprisoned in Bangladesh. The monk was arrested on sedition charges on November 25, 2024, after speaking out against the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.

The organization is urging Gabbard to use her platform to demand Das’s release and pressure the Bangladesh government to stop the persecution of Hindus. This appeal is significant, given Gabbard’s past association with ISKCON, including being a keynote speaker at their 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Washington in 2016.

Das’s arrest has sparked widespread concern, with many condemning the Bangladesh government’s actions. The Indian government has also expressed concern, urging the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety and protection of minority communities.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk, has become the face of persecution in Bangladesh following his arrest on November 25 last year. He has been languishing in jail ever since, charged with sedition.

As the former divisional organizing secretary for ISKCON in Chattogram, Das was a key figure in protests against minority persecution under the Yunus regime. His case has been marred by delays and threats from radical elements, with court proceedings either not allowed to be heard or disrupted.

The Secular Bangladesh Movement-UK has made a three-point appeal to Tulsi Gabbard, the newly appointed US Director of National Intelligence. The appeal urges Gabbard to secure Das’s release, condemn atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus, and encourage international intervention to protect their rights.

In a letter to Gabbard, Pushpita Gupta, president of the Secular Bangladesh Movement-UK, wrote: “Your voice can make a significant difference in bringing attention to this critical issue. I urge you to act swiftly and decisively to demand justice and protection for Hindus in Bangladesh.”

As the DNI, Gabbard will serve as President Donald Trump’s top intelligence adviser and play a crucial role in shaping US national security policies. Her personal connection to Hinduism, including her family’s association with the Vaishnava-affiliated Science of Identity Foundation, makes her uniquely positioned to help persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh.

According to a reply given by the Indian government in the Winter Session of Parliament, there were 2,200 incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh in 2024, with a considerable number taking place after Sheikh Hasina’s exit. This marks a significant increase from 302 such instances in 2023.

In the meanwhile an Australian Hindu body, Hindu Council of Australia, has also launched an e-petition for putting pressure on the  Australian Government for taking initiatives to free Revered Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu. (Here is the details of the e petition for signature:  https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN7008)
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__Inputs from Agencies.