ISKCON monk Chinmoy Das held in Bangladesh for sedition: All you need to know

“A Muslim lawyer defending Das was killed amid protests extracurricular the tribunal (in Chittagong),” said constabulary serviceman Liaquat Ali, Reuters reported.

Chandan Kumar Dhar, besides known arsenic Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a erstwhile ISKCON leader, and the spokesperson of the country’s Sanatan Jagaran Manch arsenic good arsenic the caput of Pundarik Dham successful Chittagong was detained connected Monday astatine Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, according to The Daily Star.

Why the Arrest

A squad of detectives reportedly apprehended Chinmoy Krishna Das successful transportation with a sedition lawsuit filed successful Chattogram. Rezaul Karim Mallick, further commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and main of the Detective Branch, confirmed the arrest.

The sedition case, lodged connected October 31 astatine Kotwali Police Station successful Chattogram, named 18 individuals, including Das, who antecedently served arsenic ISKCON’s divisional organising caput successful Chattogram. According to The Daily Star, the ailment was filed by Firoz Khan, the then-general caput of Mohora Ward Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Khan alleged that Bangladesh’s nationalist emblem was disrespected during a rally successful Chattogram’s New Market area.

“The interim authorities is committed to ensuring and upholding communal harmony successful Bangladesh astatine immoderate cost,” Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus-led authorities said ordering a probe successful the case.

When Das was being escorted backmost to situation from court, much than 2,000 supporters surrounded the van, blocking it for implicit 2 hours, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz, said, arsenic per a study by Reuters.

“They went connected a rampage, throwing bricks astatine us. To disperse the crowd, we had to occurrence teardrop gas. No 1 was earnestly injured, but 1 of our constables was hurt,” Aziz said.

ISKCON Condemns the Arrest

ISKCON has denounced the charges arsenic baseless and called for Chinmoy Krishna Das’s contiguous release. The organisation emphasised its peaceful principles and denied immoderate transportation to terrorism.

In a station connected X, ISKCON stated: “We person travel crossed disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, 1 of the salient leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to marque baseless allegations that ISKCON has thing to bash with coercion anyplace successful the world. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to instrumentality contiguous steps and talk to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement. We privation the Government of Bangladesh to merchandise Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the extortion of these devotees.”

The detention has highlighted increasing concerns astir the attraction of spiritual minorities and raised questions astir state of look and the information of Hindu leaders successful Bangladesh.

India’s reaction

India has expressed “deep concern” implicit the apprehension of the Hindu leader. With New Delhi, saying successful a sternly worded connection that the perpetrators of documented vandalism and arson against minorities arsenic good arsenic those who desecrated deities remained astatine large.

“We person noted with heavy interest the apprehension and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is besides the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incidental follows the aggregate attacks connected Hindus and different minorities by extremist elements successful Bangladesh… It is unfortunate that portion the perpetrators of these incidents stay astatine large, charges should beryllium pressed against a spiritual person presenting morganatic demands done peaceful gatherings,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said connected Tuesday (November 26).

Bangladesh’s response

The Government of Bangladesh connected Tuesday said that the apprehension of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, has been “misconstrued”, adding that the seer had been arrested connected circumstantial charges.

In a statement, Bangladesh said that ensuring the information and information of each citizens, “particularly the members of spiritual minorities”, remains a work of the country’s interim government.

“It is with utter dismay and heavy consciousness of wounded that the Government of Bangladesh notes that the apprehension of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by definite quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested connected circumstantial charges,” the statement, released by the country’s overseas affairs ministry, said.

Bangladesh said that India’s connection “completely disregards” the information that the Bangladesh authorities “is determined to conclusively extremity the civilization of impunity to the perpetrators of gross quality rights violations” against its citizens. It added that the state wants to dainty the spiritual majorities and minorities equally.

While stating that the judiciary successful Bangladesh functions independently, the state said that its authorities does not interfere successful its work. “The substance nether question is astatine contiguous being dealt with by the tribunal of law,” the Bangladesh authorities said.