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Temples vandalized as tensions rise following arrest of Hindu priest in Bangladesh

Posted on by Gerres
Temples vandalized as tensions rise following arrest of Hindu priest in Bangladesh


Chatogram, Bangladesh:

Amid unrest in Bangladesh following the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari by Dhaka police, a mob in Chattogram is allegedly attacking Hindu temples. The arrest of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das has sparked protests across Bangladesh, with the community calling for the monk’s release and justice for Hindus who have faced persecution since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to a report by a Chattogram portal, at least three temples – Lokonath Temple in Firangi Bazar, Mansa Mata Temple and Kali Mata Temple in Hazari Lane – were targeted in Chattogram in the last 24 hours. News18.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spokesperson Radharamn Das shared an alleged video of a mob attacking a Hindu temple on his X account and wrote: “24/7 attack on Hindus and Hindu places of worship in Bangladesh. When will all this happen? STOP?

In the post, he also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President-elect Donald Trump and his cabinet candidate Tulsi Gabbard.

ISKCON Bangladesh also issued a statement condemning the arrest of a Hindu monk and the subsequent violence and attacks on Sanatanis in various parts of Bangladesh. “Chinmoy Krishna Das and the Sanatani community deserve justice as citizens of this country and we emphasize that any form of discrimination against them cannot be tolerated,” it said.

Dhaka reacts to India’s statement on Monk’s arrest

Dhaka reacted to India’s statement condemning the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and calling on Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of Hindus and all other minorities. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, the government’s chief advisor, Prof. Muhammad Yunus called the matter an “internal matter” of Dhaka and said India’s concerns were “baseless”, adding they were “contrary to the spirit of friendship”.

The Yunus administration later reaffirmed “in the strongest possible terms” that every Bangladeshi, regardless of religious identity, has “the right to establish, maintain or perform appropriate religious rituals and practices or to express views without hindrance.”

Murder of lawyer and subsequent arrests

The Bangladesh government also expressed “deep concern” over the brutal murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif outside a court in Chattogram on Tuesday. “The authorities have increased security in the port city to ensure religious harmony is maintained at all costs,” the statement said.

Saiful, 35, an assistant prosecutor, was attacked with a knife following clashes between police and a crowd protesting the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh. “Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed in Chittagong,” Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Bar Association, told news agency ANI over the phone.

Yunus’ chief advisor also condemned the lawyer’s murder and ordered an investigation into the matter.

According to Bangladeshi media, law enforcement detained at least 20 people in raids in Chittagong in connection with the murder of a lawyer. Quoting Kotwali Police Station Commander Fazlul Kader: Grandstand in Dhaka said the arrests were made during operations in the Patharghata Mathar Potti, Andarkilla and Hazari Goli areas, which lasted from Tuesday evening until midnight.

Unrest in Bangladesh

Law enforcement agencies are on high alert across Bangladesh amid tensions in Chittagong. The government has deployed additional forces in Chittagong and the capital Dhaka.

The unrest began after thousands of people in Chittagong gathered outside the courthouse to demand the release of Chinmoy Brahmachari. Protesters blocked a prison van after a court rejected his bail request and ordered him to be sent to prison. To clear them out, police and other law enforcement agencies fired tear gas projectiles and sonic grenades.

Witnesses say that after two hours of clashes, Chinmoy Brahmachari was sent to prison.

About Chinmoy Krishna Das

Chandan Kumar Dhar Prokash alias Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is the spokesperson of Sanatan Jagaran Mancha. He also heads an ISKCON-run religious site called Pundarik Dham in Chittagong.

The monk was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday and was later arrested on charges of using sedatives.

“A case was filed against Chimnoy for inciting sedition, accusing him of hoisting the flag on a stand with the national flag of Bangladesh. However, the man who filed the case is no longer associated with the case. It is now that we have not agreed to continue the matter,” said the minority leader.

Quoting sources in ISKCON Chittagong, Grandstand in Dhaka reported that Chinmoy Krishna hails from the port city of Satkania Upazila. He reportedly gained the nickname “Shishu Bokta” due to his popularity as a religious preacher from an early age. He served as the Secretary of the Chittagong Branch of ISKCON from 2016 to 2022, and since 2007 he has also been the director of Pundarik Dham in Hathazari.

Violence against minorities in Bangladesh

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das came amid tensions over minority rights in the South Asian country, which has seen widespread political violence since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hindus make up about 8 percent of Bangladesh’s 170 million people. Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the new military-backed interim government led by Mohammed Yunus has faced criticism for failing to halt a surge in violence against minorities.