India-Bangladesh-ISKCON: India will not be raising with Bangladesh the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent monk of ISKCON Bangladesh who has been jailed on charges of sedition for allegedly insulting the country’s flag during a rally last month, ABP Live has learnt.
India believes this is “an internal matter” of Bangladesh, and, therefore, will not be taking any “immediate action” on the issue, top-level official sources told ABP Live.
Additionally, they said Das has already been produced in a court in Bangladesh, and the matter is now subjudice.
Even so, in a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi has expressed “deep concern” on Das’ arrest, and denial of bail to him.
“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 Jagaran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh,” the MEA said in the statement, issued Tuesday.
The MEA also said there have been several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and business establishments in Bangladesh, as well as theft, and vandalism and desecration of deities’ idols and temples.
“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. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das,” said the MEA.
It added, “We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.”
Attacks On Minorities
On Tuesday morning, Das was produced at a Chittagong court under a tight security cordon as his arrest on Monday had triggered massive protests by not only Hindu religious bodies, but also Muslims and Buddhists, who called the move a violation of freedom of expression and human rights.
Das, popularly called ‘Chinmoy Prabhu’ out of reverence, was produced before the court of Kazi Shariful Islam, who is the sixth Metropolitan Magistrate, AAM Humayun Kabir, additional deputy commissioner (prosecution) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), told the local media there.
After a nearly three-hour hearing, the court passed an order sending Das to jail while rejecting his bail application. However, the court also said that Das will be given different treatment inside jail, and can have meals in line with his religious beliefs.
As Das was leaving the court, a massive crowd of devotees assembled on the court premises amid heavy sloganeering of “Joy Chinmoy Prabhu Joy”! Roads in Dhaka also reverberated with chants and slogans in support of Das.
Das then appealed for peaceful protests, and asked the Hindu community there to not to resort to violence. “Whatever happens to me, you don't stop the logical movement,” Das said, as he was taken away.
Meanwhile, the New York-based ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Inc.) on Monday said the charges levelled against Das were “outrageous” and “baseless”.
“We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police,” it said in a statement issued late Monday night.
The religious body also said, “It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON,Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement.”
“We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees,” it added.
Since the Sheikh Hasina administration was overthrown in August, India has been raising the issue of frequent attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh on a regular basis. Dhaka, on the other hand, has been assuring New Delhi that it is taking adequate measures to safeguard the minority community there.
During the last conversation that was held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, on 16 August, Delhi had urged Dhaka to protect the minority communities in Bangladesh.
What Happened Monday and Why Das Was Detained
Das, also known by the name Chandan Kumar Dhar, was arrested from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday afternoon as he was leaving for Chittagong, where he is based.
He was arrested on the basis of a case filed against him in Chittagong on October 31 by a former leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Firoz Khan, who accused Das and 18 others of insulting the Bangladesh national flag. Das is also the leader of another religious organisation called ‘Sammilita Sanatan Jagaran Jote’ headquartered in Chittagong.
When Das was about to catch his flight, the chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) arrested him, Rezaul Karim Mallick, DMP Additional Commissioner, told reporters there.
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The petition filed by Firoz Khan alleged desecration of Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong’s New Market area during an October 25 rally organised by Sanatan Jagaran Mancha (another Hindu religious body headed by Das).
Das is accused of disrespecting the Bangladesh national flag and putting a saffron flag in front of it while holding a mass rally. The matter was then taken to local police authorities by Khan, who has since been expelled from the party.
As soon as Das was detained, a series of protests erupted across Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka and Chittagong. The protests witnessed violent activities, with the crowds also resorting to road blockades, bringing daily life to a standstill, as they sought the monk’s release.