Bangladesh: ‘Power grabbers’ have failed, says Sheikh Hasina after Yunus govt arrests Iskcon priest

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday slammed the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus over the arrest of Iskcon monk Chinmoy Krishna Das earlier this week.

According to IANS, Hasina, who is currently in India, published a statement saying, “A top leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately.”

She added that mosques, temples and churches have fallen target to extremist attacks in Bangladesh after the Yunus government “usurped” the administration after her ouster.

“The current power grabbers are showing failure in all areas. Failed to control the prices of daily necessities, failed to provide security for people’s lives. Strongly condemn these tortures directly and indirectly on common people,” the former prime minister added.

A lawyer was killed earlier this week after a scuffle broke out between protestors and security forces over the denial of bail to Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

Reacting to the incident, Hasina said, “Those involved in this murder should be found and punished quickly. Human rights have been grossly violated through this incident. A lawyer went to perform his professional duties, and those who beat him to death were terrorists. Whoever they are must be punished.”

She added, “If the unconstitutionally usurped Yunus govt fails to punish these terrorists, it will also face punishment for human rights violations. I appeal to the people of the country to stand united against this kind of terrorism and militancy. It is important to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the common people.”

Meanwhile, a High Court in Bangladesh on Thursday refused to pass an order to ban ISKCON in the country after it came to know that authorities have taken necessary actions to address the matter, adding that the interim government should take a call on the matter.

Yesterday, a Supreme Court lawyer Md Monir Uddin presented newspaper reports before a high court bench and urged to issue a suo motu (voluntary) ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) activities in Bangladesh.