Outrage in India over monk's arrest, atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh

Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested while travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong by men in plain clothes who identified themselves as Bangladeshi police detectives.

In Short

• India expresses outrage after Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested in Bangladesh
• West Bengal BJP unit holds protest outside West Bengal Assembly
• Chief priest of Ram Temple in Ayodhya calls Das's arrest unjust

Protests against attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh intensified on Monday after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, President of Pundarik Dham and a leading figure in the Hindu community. His arrest on sedition charges has sparked outrage in both Bangladesh and India, with political leaders and religious figures condemning the move and calling for his release.

Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested while travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong by men in plain clothes who identified themselves as Bangladeshi police detectives.

According to ISKCON Vice President Radha Ramn Das, Chinmoy Krishna Das was "forcefully put into a van" without explanation. The arrest stems from allegations that he insulted the Bangladeshi flag during a protest in October, where a saffron flag was reportedly raised higher than the national flag.

Bangladeshi authorities have charged Chinmoy Krishna Das and 17 others with sedition. However, Radha Ramn Das rejected claims that a saffron flag was raised higher than the national flag in Bangladesh. Speaking to India Today TV, he said, "The flag incident was a misunderstanding. This arrest is an attempt to silence the face of minority protests in Bangladesh."

The incident has intensified existing protests in Bangladesh, where Hindus and other minorities have been demanding protection amid a surge in violence. Over the past 100 days, minority communities have reported targeted attacks, kidnappings, and sexual violence against women.

"For months, minorities in Bangladesh have faced relentless violence," said Radha Ramn Das.

"The government is trying to indict anyone who speaks up. This is not just an attack on Chinmoy Krishna Das but on the entire minority community."

In India, the arrest has drawn sharp criticism, particularly in West Bengal, where the BJP staged protests outside the state Assembly. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, warned that the party would escalate its agitation towards the India-Bangladesh border if Das was not released.

Suvendu Adhikari, said BJP MLAs of the state would stage a march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission and "gherao" it on Wednesday seeking the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

"We will not stand by as Hindus are suppressed in Bangladesh," he said. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also criticised the arrest, stating, "There is an attempt to suppress the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Chinmoy Krishna Das opposed this suppression, and now he has been detained under false charges."

Religious leaders in India echoed these sentiments. Acharya Satyendra Das, the Chief Priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, called the arrest unjust, comparing the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh to historical persecution in Pakistan.

"This is absolutely wrong," he said.

"I believe Bangladesh is also treating Hindus the way Pakistan used to treat them. The people who take a stand for Hindus are arrested like this, which is wrong."

Spiritual leader Sadhguru also weighed in, describing the situation as "disgraceful." In a statement on social media platform X, he wrote, "It is disgraceful to see how a democratic nation is disintegrating to become theocratic and autocratic."

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed serious concern over the incident. In an official statement, the ministry said, "We urge the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das."

The arrest has highlighted the ongoing plight of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Protests in Dhaka and other cities have drawn attention to systemic violence, with protesters alleging that the government has failed to protect vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, a video surfaced online, showing the Bangladeshi Police resorting to lathicharge members of the Hindu community protesting against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das.