Bangladesh: ‘Hindus Are Safe’; Yunus’ Official Denies Claims of ISKCON Ban Amid Rising Tensions
Bangladesh's Shafiqul Islam responds to ISKCON issue and violence over Chinmoy Krishna Das' arrest, assuring the safety of Hindus in the country.
Dhaka: Amid growing tensions in Bangladesh over the arrest of ISKCON-associated leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, Shafiqul Islam, the press secretary to Bangladesh’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, has made a statement asserting that Hindus are “safe” in the country. In a recent interview, Islam dismissed claims that the Bangladeshi government intends to impose a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Islam emphasized that there is no plan to ban ISKCON and clarified that he was unaware of any legal proceedings related to the case. The controversy erupted after Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on charges of treason, which led to widespread protests and violence. Islam stated that Bangladesh is currently facing a smear campaign, and violence in the early days has now been brought under control.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s financial authorities imposed restrictions on the bank accounts of 17 ISKCON affiliates, requesting them to provide transaction details within three working days.
India’s Continued Opposition The Indian government has expressed growing concerns about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that Bangladesh’s interim government must take responsibility for protecting all minorities, particularly Hindus, who have been facing threats and targeted violence. They also raised concerns over the rising use of extremist rhetoric and incidents of violence in Bangladesh.
Regarding Chinmoy Krishna Das’ arrest, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that they are following the legal proceedings and hope that the case will be handled in a fair and transparent manner, respecting the legal rights of all individuals involved.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON spokesperson, was arrested at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and charged with sedition. His arrest led to clashes between his supporters and security forces, resulting in the death of a lawyer.
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