Noted with deep concern arrest, denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das: India on Hindu leader's arrest in Bangladesh

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday expressed concern over the arrest of a Hindu priest and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

“This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. 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,” MEA said in a statement.

The Ministry urged Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in the country.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON ) has called for “immediate steps” by the Indian government to release Das after he was detained by the Dhaka police on Monday.

“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 is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world,” ISKCON said in a statement on X.

Local media reports say that Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is commonly known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday (November 25) at 4:30 pm.

According to a report by Daily Star, Das was reportedly named in a sedition case filed against 19 individuals last month.

The case statement details an incident from October 25, where “a group of youths reportedly placed a saffron-coloured flag over the Bangladeshi flag on the Independent pillar (Shadhinata Smathamva) at Zero Point near the New Market intersection during a rally organised by the Hindu community under the banner ‘Sanatan Jagaran Mancha.’”

Brahmachari, of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, was arrested as he travelled from the capital Dhaka to Chittagong, a senior leader of the group told AFP.

“We are not aware of the charges brought against him,” the committee member Proshanto Kumar Haldar told AFP, saying the group would stage rallies demanding he be released.