Bangladesh HC bins plea to ban ISKCON

Dhaka/New Delhi, November 28

The Bangladesh High Court on Thursday rejected a petition seeking a ban on ISKCON’s activities in the country even as the Ministry of External Affairs told Parliament that New Delhi had told Dhaka to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities.

In another development, 75 eminent Indians, including former judges, bureaucrats and Army veterans, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over the systematic pattern of attacks in Bangladesh on the Hindus, their religious sites and properties as well as the arrest of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Bangladesh’s deposed PM Sheikh Hasina too sought Das’ immediate release and condemned his arrest on sedition charges. “Religious freedom and the security of life and property for all communities must be ensured,” Hasina, who has taken refuge in India, posted on her party’s X account.

The Bangladesh High Court’s refusal to ban ISKCON came days after a lawyer was killed in a clash between security personnel and Das’ supporters. A lawyer had sought the ban on ISKCON after placing before the High Court newspaper reports related to the organisation.

“The two-member High Court Bench declined to ban ISKCON activities in Bangladesh,” a spokesman for the Attorney General’s office said. He said the Bench made the decision after the Attorney General’s office submitted a report on the action taken by the government regarding the death of Assistant Government Prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif in the port city of Chattogram earlier this week.

Das was arrested and sent to jail by a Chattogram court on sedition charges, sparking a violent protest during which Alif was killed. The Bench has been informed that three separate cases had been filed in connection with the murder of the lawyer and ISKCON’s activities and 33 accused had been arrested.

ISKCON-Bangladesh has refuted allegations linking the organisation to the lawyer’s killing, saying the claims were baseless and part of a malicious campaign.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs today told Parliament that India had conveyed to Bangladesh its concerns over desecration of Hindu temples, and that the protection of life and liberty of all citizens, including minorities, rested with the government of the neighbouring nation.

Responding to another question, the MEA listed Indian infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. The projects include procurement of equipment and machinery for roads and highways for $59.84 million; infrastructure development for power evacuation facilities of Rooppur nuclear power plant for $1,016.83 million; widening of Baraiyerhat-Heako-Ramgarh road (38 km) for $80.06 million and the construction of Madarganj 100 MW solar power plant at Madarganj in Jamalpur for $131.56 million.

Meanwhile, ISKCON Bangladesh refuted allegations linking it to the lawyer’s killing, saying the claims were baseless and part of a malicious campaign. “A series of false, fabricated and malicious campaigns are being spearheaded targeting ISKCON-Bangladesh, particularly in connection with recent events. These efforts are aimed at discrediting our organisation,” it said. — TNS/PTI