iskcon-urges-b-desh-govt-to-protect-hindus-religious-rights

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has urged the Bangladesh government to foster "peaceful coexistence" for the country’s Hindu community, condemning the recent arrest of prominent community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

 

Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday as he was about to board a flight to Chattogram for a rally.

 

On Tuesday, he was denied bail and remanded to custody in connection with a sedition case filed in Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

 

In a statement, ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari expressed grave concern, saying, "We express our serious concern and strongly denounce the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das... We also condemn the subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various regions of Bangladesh."

 

He further urged authorities to promote peaceful coexistence for the Sanatani community.

 

The statement called on the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, to ensure that justice is upheld for all citizens and that religious freedom is safeguarded.

 

“Bangladesh is our birthplace and ancestral home,” the statement read, "and we urge the government to allow every citizen to practice their religion freely."

 

ISKCON Bangladesh highlighted that Das, a vocal advocate for minority rights, should be protected in his efforts to defend freedom of speech.

 

The statement added that “Ensuring justice and fair treatment for him is crucial,” stressing that discrimination against the Sanatani community must not be tolerated.

 

Das, a former member of ISKCON, was recently expelled by the organisation, which has continued to demand accountability for the recent attacks on the Sanatani community in Bangladesh. 

 

ISKCON Bangladesh called on the government to identify and punish those responsible for such attacks and to implement measures that maintain peace among all communities.

 

"We urge the interim government and other leaders to ensure constitutional protection for minorities and facilitate their participation in society," the statement concluded, emphasising the need for peaceful action to restore harmony.