 "Bangladeshi Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu shows a victory sign as he is taken in a police van after a court denied him bail. Protests have gripped the country over the last two days. AP")
How safe is Bangladesh for Hindus and other minorities? It’s a question that has been asked too often, especially after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Now tension has gripped the country as violent clashes erupted after the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das on Monday.
At the centre of the unrest is Chittagong (Chattogram), a port city in southeastern Bangladesh. A lawyer has been killed and temples are reportedly being targeted. Amid all this, India has raised concerns over the safety of Hindus in the neighbouring nation.
What’s going on in Bangladesh? And how did it all begin? We take a deep dive.
Why was Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu arrested in Bangladesh?
Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, the Hindu priest who is linked to ISKCON, was arrested at Dhaka’s main airport while travelling to Chittagong on Monday. He was reportedly held after a complaint by former Bangladesh National Party (BNP) leader Firoze Khan on the allegation of desecration of the national flag.
The monk is the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sommilito Sanatan Jagaran Jot, a newly formed coalition between two religious bodies, one of which advocates for the rights of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, where Islam is the state religion. He is also head of the Pundarik Dham, which is operated by ISKCON, in Chittagong, according to Dhaka Tribune.
Das has been leading rallies demanding the security of Hindus in Bangladesh. On October 30, a case was filed against 19 people, including the priest, at Chattogram’s Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag during one such gathering of the Hindu community, news agency PTI reported.
According to case details, a religious flag was placed over the national flag during the rally.
Das has been arrested on the charges of sedition. Since the police did not seek remand, the court has sent him to judicial custody, directing that he be granted all religious privileges during his attention. His bail application was rejected by Chittagong’s Metropolitan Mesgistrate Court on Tuesday (November 26). Now the next bail hearing is expected to come up on Thursday (November 28).
Das delivered a powerful message from a prison van outside a Dhaka court on Tuesday. “We want a united Bangladesh,” he said in Bengali, flashing a victory sign before being taken away by the police. ‘We santanis have some responsibilities towards the nation.”
How Chinmoy Krishna Das’ arrest triggered protests
Soon after the arrest, protests erupted in Dhaka, Chittagong, and other parts of the country.
In Dhaka, members of the Hindu community protested in the Shahbagh area, raising slogans and blocking roads, as they demanded that Das be released immediately. Members of ISCKON also protested against the arrest, reports Dhaka Tribune. During the protest, several people were injured after being attacked by unidentified people.
Thousands of people in Chittagong gathered on the court premises demanding the release of Das on Tuesday. Violence broke out in the high court premises as police cracked down on protesters. Several were injured as cops hurled sound grenades and lathi-charged the monk’s supporters.
As the clashes in Chittagong turned violent, a lawyer was killed on Tuesday. However, the motive for the killing is not known.
“Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer, was killed in Chittagong,” Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Bar Association, told news agency ANI over the phone.
Arif was brutally hacked to death and the Chittagong Bar Association has decided to suspend the court activities on Wednesday in protest.
Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, has condemned the lawyer’s murder. He has also ordered an investigation into the killing and an appropriate legal course. Yunus has urged people to keep calm and stay away from participating in any untoward activities. He has also ordered law enforcement agencies to step up security in the port city, including in all the vulnerable neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, Hindu groups claim that Das has been targeted because he spoke up against the atrocities faced by Hindu Bengalis since the regime change that saw Sheikh Hasina ousted . They allege these are steps taken by the Yunus-led interim government to antagonise Bengali Hindus, a minority in Bangladesh.
What has been the fallout of the protests?
Students at Dhaka University held a protest march on campus over the lawyer’s killing. They chanted anti-ISKCON slogans and held a symbolic funeral prayer.
Three Hindu temples were targeted in Chittagong. These include Lokonath Temple in Firangi Bazar, Mansa Mata Temple and Kali Mata Temple in Hazari Lane, according to a report in News18.
How has India reacted to Das’ arrest?
India has expressed “deep concern” over the denial of bail to Das. “This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
“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,” it added.
The MEA also urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety of Hindus and minorities in the country. “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,” the statement emphasised.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously raised the issue in public statements and over a phone conversation with Yunus.
What has Bangladesh said?
Hours after MEA issued a statement, Dhaka reacted, calling the issue an “internal affairs of Bangladesh”. It said that “such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries”.
With input from agencies