Bangladesh ISKCON Controversy: 10 Key Facts About Chinmoy Das’ Arrest

Bangladesh ISKCON Controversy: The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former priest of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh, on the charges of sedition has sparked protests and agitation in the country.

The event has also generated worries over the increasing dis-affairment of minorities from general governance in Bangladesh.

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India has expressed "deep concern" on Chinmoy Krishna Das' arrest asking for the Bangladeshi government to see safety and security of the Hindus in that nation.

Bangladesh's minority Hindus, who constitute only about 8 percent of the total 170 million populations, have faced over 200 attacks in more than 50 districts since Sheikh Hasina's Awami League fell from power on August 5.

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Here are the ten things to know about the Bangladesh-ISKCON saga.

• Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, otherwise better known to all as the Chandan Kumar Dhar, is a former leader of ISKCON, and he was apprehended on November 25 at Dhaka airport.
• Chinmoy Krishna Das, an ISKCON leader, was arrested in connection with a sedition case filed against him and 18 others. This case stems from allegations of Das hoisting saffron flags above Bangladesh's national flag at a rally in October.
• Das' arrest also sparked protests in various cities, including Dhaka, Chattogram, where a lawyer died on Tuesday after protests turned violent. In Dhaka and Chittagong, the Bangladesh police threw tear gas to scatter a large congregation of protesters.
• Bangladesh's interim chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, condemned the lawyer's murder and urged the masses to exercise calm and restrain from participating in any untoward activities.
• ISKCON wished for the Bangladesh government to ensure "peaceful coexistence" for Hindus in the country as it "strongly" condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
• Formerly, India's political leaders, especially the opposition, condemned the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das and appealed to the central government under Narendra Modi to take note of the situation.
• A petition for a ban against ISKCON's activities in Bangladesh was dismissed by the high court today. The court, however, stressed that it should also be made mandatory for the government to ensure the law and order condition and secure lives and possessions of the country's citizens.
• Also on that day, ISKCON Bangladesh disassociated itself with the monk, noting that his "actions are not representative" of the religious body. According to Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, General Secretary of ISKCON Bangladesh, the monk had been removed from all positions of the organization due to a breach of discipline.
• Formerly, Bangladesh Prime-Minister Sheikh Hasina had backed arrested Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, saying he was "unjustly arrested" and must be released immediately. She said the Bangladesh government should henceforth protect the religious and ethnic minorities that have faced violence since her ouster from power in August.
• "A top leader of the Sanatan Dharma community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately. Temples have been burned in Chittagong. In the past, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community have been attacked, vandalized, looted and set on fire. Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities must be ensured," the Awami League posted Hasina's statement on X.

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