Chicago November 27, 2024
The Bangladeshi government has called the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) a “religious fundamentalist organization” after a petition was filed in the High Court to ban the group. This comes during protests across the country following the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
Das, a former Iskcon member, was arrested earlier this week for allegedly disrespecting the national flag at a Hindu community rally. His arrest sparked protests from the Hindu community, which has faced over 200 attacks since the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina fell on August 5.
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman stated that Iskcon is not a political party but a religious group under government scrutiny. The High Court has asked the government to report on the situation by Thursday morning and take steps to prevent further violence. Iskcon vice president Radha Raman Das expressed concern over the situation, suggesting that things may improve after January 20 when Donald Trump takes office.
India has reacted to Das’s arrest, calling it “deeply concerning” and highlighting the increasing attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh by extremist groups. The Bangladeshi government maintains that Das was arrested for sedition, not as a community leader.
