“Deeply Troubling”: ISKCON On Bangladesh High Court Considering Ban On The Organisation (image-X/deepscribble)
Amid reports of the Bangladesh High Court considering a writ petition seeking to ban the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the country and labelling it as a “fundamental religious organisation,” the organisation called the motion “deeply troubling.”
Following the arrest and denial of bail to Hindu priest and community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges on Monday in Bangladesh’s Dhaka, relations between India and its neighbour have been strained.
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In its recent statement, ISKCON urged the Bangladeshi authorities to protect the rights of all minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others. It appealed to the officials to handle Das’ case in accordance with international standards of justice. “While he is neither an official nor a representative of ISKCON, he is entitled to fair treatment,” stated ISKCON.
“ISKCON is a respected, inclusive global religious tradition. Regional ISKCON leaders are engaging with Bangladeshi government representatives to address this and related concerns,” read the statement.
The organisation further added that it ran “orphanages, old-age homes, and free medical camps, and consistently provided humanitarian aid during disasters such as floods, serving people of all religions and ethnicities.”
“The suggestion that ISKCON members are anything other than loyal and peaceful citizens is unfounded. Our spiritual tradition, which has sacred roots in the Bangladesh region, is followed by millions of practitioners worldwide and is known for its ethos of nonviolence and inclusivity,” it added.
ISKCON expressed “deep concern” over the issue and urged media and social media users to refrain from spreading “unverified rumours or inflammatory narratives.”
BJP and Congress leaders from West Bengal took to the streets and marched towards the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata.
The former divisional organising secretary of ISKCON Chattogram was detained at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his alleged involvement in a sedition case filed in October in Chattogram. Local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Firoz Khan, accused Das and others of disrespecting the national flag during a rally.
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Das’ arrest triggered protests in Dhaka and Chittagong. Clashes broke out between his supporters and the police. ISKCON condemned the charges as “baseless” and stated, “We are a Bhakti movement with no ties to terrorism.”
Following the arrest the Indian Ministry expressed “deep concern” over Das’ arrest and highlighted “multiple attacks” on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, accusing the government of failing to act against perpetrators.
