The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Thursday expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on treason charges for allegedly hoisting the flag on a stand displaying the national flag of Bangladesh.
In a post on Twitter, ISKCON, Inc. said, “ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers are with Lord Krishna for the safety of all these devotees.”
ISKCON, Inc. Shri Chinmoy is standing with Krishna Das. We pray to Lord Krishna for the safety of all these devotees.
– ISKCON, Inc. (@IskconInc) 28 November 2024
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on treason charges for hoisting the flag on a stand displaying the national flag of Bangladesh. He was produced before the Chittagong court on Tuesday, which rejected his bail plea and sent him to custody.
The arrest has sparked widespread outrage with many demanding his immediate release.
In a related development, according to local media reports, a lawyer filed a petition seeking a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh, terming it a “radical organization” that engages in activities aimed at inciting communal unrest.
Earlier today, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned Das’s “unjust” arrest and called for his immediate release. Hasina also expressed concern about attacks on minorities and their places of worship, urging authorities to ensure religious freedom and security. Of all communities.
“A senior leader of the Sanatan Dharma community has been unjustly arrested, and I demand his immediate release. Temples have been set on fire in Chittagong. Earlier, mosques, temples, churches, belonging to the Ahmadiyya community were destroyed. Monasteries and houses have been attacked.” They were vandalized, looted and burnt,” Sheikh Hasina said in a statement. Religious freedom and security of all communities must be guaranteed.
Recently, a group of retired judges, bureaucrats and a sitting MP sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene and address the rising violence and discrimination against Hindus in Bangladesh.
The arrest has further strained relations between the Bangladesh government and ISKCON, leading to protests and unrest.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
