Ensure the safety of minorities: India urges Bangladesh after arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das

Bangladesh terms the comment ‘contrary’ to friendly relations

A war of words broke out between India and Bangladesh after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) expressed “deep concern” over incidents targeting minority communities in Bangladesh, and termed the arrest and denial of bail for International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) leader Chinmoy Krishna Das as “unfortunate”.

In a statement issued after Mr. Das was sent to jail amidst violent clashes in Chittagong, the MEA came out in support of Mr. Das and called upon the interim government of Bangladesh to “ensure safety and security of Hindus and all minorities”.

Responding to the MEA’s remarks, Bangladesh said the statement was “contrary” to the friendly ties between the two neighbouring countries and that it misrepresented facts.

“We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh,” the MEA said in its statement.

Soon after, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh noted that the MEA had remarked “on a matter concerning internal affairs of Bangladesh”, and said, “such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries”.

The interim  government of Bangladesh, which took charge after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, has been maintaining that the incidents targeting minority communities were not widespread, and in a recent interview with The Hindu, Chief Advisor Prof. Muhammad Yunus had cited the human rights background of himself and his team of advisers to argue that such claims of atrocities against minority communities in Bangladesh did not “fit” him.

The incident regarding Mr. Das erupted on Monday (November 25, 2024) afternoon when he reached the Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka, reportedly to board a flight to Chittagong, where he presides over Pundarik Dham, an important centre of the Vaishnavite school of Hinduism and of ISKCON. Soon after the arrest of Mr. Das by the detective branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, protests began in the Shahbag neighbourhood of Dhaka, and Barishal and Chittagong, where police lathi-charged protesters.

Mr. Das was taken to a court in Chittagong on Tuesday (November 26, 2024), and sent to custody after being denied bail in a case of insulting the national flag of Bangladesh while carrying out a protest rally in Chittagong on October 25. The situation quickly escalated as Mr. Das’s supporters tried to prevent his transportation to the police lock-up, and in the ensuing clashes, a lawyer named Saiful Islam Alif was murdered.

The case against Mr. Das was filed on October 30 by a former leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who was subsequently thrown out of the BNP. It was alleged that Mr. Das and his companions had insulted the national flag of Bangladesh. The MEA on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) cited reported attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh in the last three months. “It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings,” the MEA said.

The Bangladesh government has described the killing of advocate Alif as “brutal”.

Published - November 26, 2024 03:29 pm IST