New Delhi:
A Hindu priest and religious minority leader on Monday amid tension over minority rights in Bangladesh Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari Was arrested. This arrest took place in Rangpur city, located about 300 km north of the capital Dhaka. Protests were taking place here on behalf of the Hindu community demanding stronger legal protection and creation of a ministry for minority affairs.
Bangladesh has been witnessing widespread political violence since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.
Tagging External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, ISKCON spokesperson Radharaman Das wrote on the Please note that the leader has been arrested by Dhaka Police and taken to an undisclosed location.”
I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in these difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location. kind attention @ihcdhaka @DrSJaishankar, pic.twitter.com/J9MszoBUvy
— Radharamn Das Radharamn Das (@RadharamnDas) November 25, 2024
Although Bangladeshi authorities have not issued any official statement regarding this, but reports suggest that Brahmachari was detained at Dhaka airport earlier this week. His arrest comes after he was booked under sedition earlier this month for allegedly being vocal against violence targeting Hindus.
About 8 percent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population are Hindus. Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the new military-backed interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has been criticized for failing to stop violence against minorities.
Attacks on Hindu businesses, homes and temples in Bangladesh
In recent months, Hindu businesses, homes and temples have been vandalized. The situation has become worse after the departure of Sheikh Hasina. Earlier this month, sedition charges were filed against 19 people who participated in a minority rights rally in Chittagong.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has criticized the Yunus government in Bangladesh and said that Chinmay Brahmachari is leading the fight for the survival of Hindu minorities.
Suvendu Adhikari posted on Twitter, “Famous firebrand Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been kidnapped by the spy branch at Dhaka airport in Bangladesh. He is leading the fight for the survival and dignity of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. The Bangladeshi Sanatani community fears that Mohammad Yunus’s fundamentalist regime may stoop to any level, even eliminating ‘perceived threats’ to its authority. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar please pay attention to the matter and take immediate action.”
Renowned firebrand Hindu Leader; Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been abducted by the Detective Branch at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh.
He is leading the fight for the survival & dignity of the Hindu Minorities of Bangladesh.The Bangladeshi Sanatani Community fear that Md… pic.twitter.com/n5Bb6Zk2JM
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 25, 2024
Meanwhile, Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, called the arrest a deliberate step taken to suppress the voices of protest.
Kanchan Gupta wrote, “Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported to have been arrested by the Yunus Regime Police in Dhaka. A group of Hindus protesting the targeted attack on Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and demanding protection from Islamists Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the senior leader of the Hindu community, is believed to have been accused of treason after leading the massive rally. Has been taken to the detective branch.”
Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported arrested in Dhaka by Yunus Regime Police.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from…— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) November 25, 2024
The interim regime in Bangladesh had announced an electoral roadmap promising to reform the electoral system. However, people remain skeptical of its commitment to democracy, especially as reports of targeted attacks against minorities continue to emerge.
During a speech, Mohammad Yunus had mentioned the government’s security measures during Durga Puja, which is celebrated at over 32,000 places across the country, to show its commitment towards the safety of minorities. However, activists have called it inadequate.
