ISKCON welcomes remarks by Bangladesh on no ban; continues protests demanding release of monk

Security beefed up at Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata after protests by Hindu groups

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has welcomed the remarks by a senior official of the Bangladesh government that no discussion was held to ban the religious organisation, but continued with protests in Kolkata demanding release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a monk associated with the organisation who was arrested by the Bangladesh police earlier this week.

Also Read:The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh | Explained

The monks and supporters of ISKCON led by vice-president Radharaman Das held a ‘protest kirtan’ at its Albert Road centre in Kolkata. The monks of ISKCON held protests with posters, “We are not terrorists”.

“This is a welcome step. We were disturbed when we heard a statement from the A-G (Attorney General) of the Bangladesh government about a possible ban. Now if the government is saying this, we welcome this,” Mr. Das said.

The remarks by ISKCON come in the backdrop of remarks made by Syed Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, that the government was not mixing the offences of organisations with the offences of individuals.

“No discussion was held in the government to ban ISKCON in Bangladesh. Many may raise demands. People may undertake programmes to press for their demands. But we are not mixing the offences of organisations with the offences of individuals,” Ms. Hasan had said in Dhaka on Thursday (November 28, 2024).

The ISKCON representative, however, said certain centres of the organisation were being targeted in rural areas of Bangladesh. ISKCON has over 100 centers in Bangladesh. “Whenever we get calls from our people in Bangladesh, they say that it seems the world has forgotten about us. Through our kirtan here we want to tell them that they are in our prayers,” Mr. Das said.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a monk associated with ISKCON, was arrested in Bangladesh on November 25. “Iskcon,Inc. stands with Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees,” the religious organisation tweeted.

Effigy burnt

Meanwhile, the security at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata was stepped up on Friday (November 29, 2024), a day after supporters of Hindu Jagaran Manch tried to breach barricades. The protesters also burned the effigy of Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Interim Government Mohammad Yunus.

Sources said that along with deployment at the police kiosk, senior officials of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police would oversee the security arrangements near the Deputy High Commission.

During the day, the Government of Bangladesh expressed concern over the protests outside the Deputy High Commission. On Friday (November 29, 2024), representatives of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), led by MLA Nawsad Siddique, submitted a deputation to the officials of the Deputy High Commission. Earlier this week, MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, marched to the Deputy High Commission and submitted a deputation to the officials.

On Friday (November 29, 2024), BJP MP and former judge of Calcutta High Court, Abhijit Mukherjee said Mr. Yunus had failed to control the situation in Bangladesh. Mr. Mukherjee demanded that the Nobel committee withdraw the Nobel peace prize conferred on Mr. Yunus for failing to protect minorities in the neighbouring country.

Published - November 29, 2024 11:02 pm IST