Another ISKCON priest has been arrested in Bangladesh amid growing unrest against the Hindu minority, claimed ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharaman Das on Friday.
The priest, identified as Shyam Das, was reportedly detained while attempting to visit fellow monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested earlier this week on sedition charges.
Radharaman Das, voicing outrage, posted on social media: “Does he look like a terrorist? The arrest of innocent ISKCON brahmacharis is deeply shocking and disturbing.”
The hashtag FreeISKCONMonksBangladesh gained traction alongside his post, which also included footage of an ISKCON centre in Bhairab being vandalised.
The unrest follows the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August, triggering a wave of violence against the Hindu community.
Reports indicate over 200 temples have been targeted in a systematic crackdown.
Adding to the community’s woes, Bangladeshi authorities froze the bank accounts of 17 individuals linked to ISKCON, including Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Meanwhile, a petition seeking to ban ISKCON on grounds of alleged religious fundamentalism was rejected by the High Court.
India’s response
The escalating violence has reverberated across borders, with religious groups in Kolkata staging protests outside Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission.
The Ministry of External Affairs, expressing serious concern, urged Dhaka to take immediate measures to ensure the safety and liberty of its minorities.
“India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities,” the Ministry stated.
“We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric,” he added.
The developments underscore a deepening crisis for Bangladesh’s minority communities. Observers have noted that the targeting of ISKCON and other Hindu institutions highlights the broader challenges faced by minorities in the country.
Radharaman Das summed up the situation grimly stating, “No respite in sight.”
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