[🇧🇩] ISKCON and its activities in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Murder case filed as protests on over killing of lawyer on Ctg court premises

Four days after lawyer Saiful Islam Alif had been hacked to death in Chattogram, a murder case was filed with the Kotwali police against 31 named and 10–15 unidentified people early Saturday...

www.newagebd.net

Murder case filed as protests on over killing of lawyer on Ctg court premises
Staff Correspondent . Chattogram 30 November, 2024, 13:57

Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. | UNB Photo

Four days after lawyer Saiful Islam Alif had been hacked to death in Chattogram, a murder case was filed with the Kotwali police against 31 named and 10–15 unidentified people early Saturday amid protest demanding justice for the killing.

The victim’s father Jamal Uddin filed the murder case.

Saiful’s elder brother Khane Alam filed another case with the same police station over attacks and vandalism carried out on a Chattogram court premises against 116 named individuals and 400–500 unnamed people, said Chattogram Metropolitan Police additional deputy commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz.

With these two, five cases had been filed so far over the murder of assistant public prosecutor in Chattogram Saiful Islam Alif near court premises and clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and followers of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on November 26.

The killing and clashes happened when the police was taking Chinmoy Krishna Das, arrested in a sedition case to jail under a court order.

Saiful’s family filed two cases and police filed three, all leading to, so far, arrest of 38 people, including nine allegedly identified for killing the lawyer.

In Dhaka city on Saturday morning, Bangladesh Krishi Bank Jatiyatabadi Forum held a rally in front of the bank’s head office in Motijheel area, protesting at the killing.

Speakers at the rally alleged that ousted fascist Awami League government killed the lawyer in a planned way to spark anarchy.

The named accused in the murder case include Chandan, Aman Das, Shuvo Kanti Das, Bunja, Ranab, Bidhan, Bikash, Ramit, Rumit Das, Nayan Das, Gagan Das, Vishal Das, Omkar Das, Vishal, Rajkapur, Lala, Samir, Sohel Das, Shiv Kumar, Biglal, Parash, Ganesh, Om Das, Poppy, Ajay, Devi Charan, Dev, Joy, Durlav Das, Rajib Bhattacharya, all reportedly residents of the Bandel Road Sebak Colony under the city’s Kotwali police, according to the case documents.

When the court ordered Chinmoy Krishna Das to be sent to jail rejecting his bail plea, his lawyers became agitated, made offensive remarks targeting the court, and caused chaos on the premises, the case statement said.

Chinmoy followers blocked the prison van for about two–three hours, and when members of police, Border Guard Bangladesh and Ansar tried to disperse them, they created chaos chanting provocative slogans and vandalised 20–30 vehicles, the case statement added.

Later that day, around 4:30pm, the accused allegedly targeted Alif due to his beard and attacked him with sharp weapons leaving marks in 21–22 places of his body.

In the case statement, Alif’s father also alleged that after speaking with witnesses and his son’s colleagues, he discovered that the murder was carried out with direct and indirect instigation from leaders and activists associated with the Chhatra League, Juba League, Awami League, and other organisations affiliated to it.

The lawyers’ death sparked protests in Dhaka and Chattogram as elsewhere in the country demanding justice and also a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was formerly a leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON in short.

Three leaders of banned student organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, meanwhile were arrested on Saturday in a case filed over vandalising a temple run by the ISKCON in Kishoreganj’s Bhairab.

The arrested are Chhatra League Bhairab municipality unit joint general secretary Hasibul Hasan, library affairs secretary Md Sanjib and Bhairab upazila unit joint general secretary Md Pranto.

Bhairab police officer-in-charge Md Shahin said that the incident occurred at ‘Sri Sri Hare Krishna Namhatta Sangha’ at Ranibazar Haludpatti in the upazila Friday afternoon.

‘We have so far arrested three suspects in connection with the incident. They are Chhatra League leaders,’ he said.

Pranay Karmakar, a resident of the Tinpatti area of the town, filed the case with the Bhairab police against unidentified people, he said.

At 5:00pm, 15–20 people attacked the temple with sticks, the case statement said.​

 

[Saif]

Won’t be appropriate to talk too much on Bangladesh: Shashi Tharoor

If the govt has something to say on behalf of the foreign ministry, it would be good if S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us, he said

en.prothomalo.com

Won’t be appropriate to talk too much on Bangladesh: Shashi Tharoor
ANI
Published: 30 Nov 2024, 09: 45

Shashi TharoorFile photo

Amid ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the situation in the neighboring country in the aftermath of the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.

He also mentioned that the Committee on External Affairs has called a meeting on the situation in Bangladesh on 11 December. The committee is currently headed by MP Shashi Tharoor.

"...If the government has something to say on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, it would be good if (External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us. We have called a meeting of the External Affairs Committee on 11 December to know the details about Bangladesh. We are concerned about whatever is going on in Bangladesh. All minorities should get democratic rights in their country," he said.

"But it would not be appropriate to talk too much as this matter does not concern our country," Shashi Tharoor added.

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for his immediate release. Uddhanand Das, a pracharak of the ISKCON branch in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, termed the interim government in Bangladesh as "anti-Hindu."

"Our goal is to condemn the anti-Hindu government in Bangladesh... We should unitedly come together and support Hindus," Das told ANI.

On Thursday, ISKCON expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON stated, "ISKCON Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees."

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on 25 November. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody.​

 

[Saif]

I think Pakistan has batter friendship with China than BD. Ask your Pakistani friends how much help they received in 4 war/Conflicts of Pakistan India. When we liberated your country way 5 decades back, US had sent its seventh fleet to help Pakistan. We created BD in spite of that. Your problem is that your eyes are not on History.

For your information, China is too weak country to mess with India so far as Bay of Bengal, Indian ocean or Arabian sea is concern. They tried to do gimmick in Doklam and Galwan to release the pressure from sea but they were forced to retreat from both the places.

Although China did not help Pakistan by sending its own troops in a war against India, if you look at the defense industry of Pakistan, you will notice that almost all of the heavy military hardware technology was provided by China. Tank, aircraft, frigate, and submarine technologies were transferred by China. Pakistan's nuclear reactors were purchased from China.

China is more focused on Taiwan (South China Sea), and the Middle East (Israel-Palestine war and US-Iran Feud). This is precisely why China has decided to put minimum resource in China-India feud. Your problem is you think India is a superpower which is utterly wrong. Your opinions are far from reality.

 

[Bilal9]

Won’t be appropriate to talk too much on Bangladesh: Shashi Tharoor

If the govt has something to say on behalf of the foreign ministry, it would be good if S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us, he said

en.prothomalo.com

Won’t be appropriate to talk too much on Bangladesh: Shashi Tharoor
ANI
Published: 30 Nov 2024, 09: 45

View attachment 11222
Shashi TharoorFile photo

Amid ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the situation in the neighboring country in the aftermath of the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.

He also mentioned that the Committee on External Affairs has called a meeting on the situation in Bangladesh on 11 December. The committee is currently headed by MP Shashi Tharoor.

"...If the government has something to say on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, it would be good if (External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us. We have called a meeting of the External Affairs Committee on 11 December to know the details about Bangladesh. We are concerned about whatever is going on in Bangladesh. All minorities should get democratic rights in their country," he said.

"But it would not be appropriate to talk too much as this matter does not concern our country," Shashi Tharoor added.

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for his immediate release. Uddhanand Das, a pracharak of the ISKCON branch in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, termed the interim government in Bangladesh as "anti-Hindu."

"Our goal is to condemn the anti-Hindu government in Bangladesh... We should unitedly come together and support Hindus," Das told ANI.

On Thursday, ISKCON expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON stated, "ISKCON Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees."

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on 25 November. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody.​

Problem with this Chinmoy guy is that his actions are not limited to priesthood.

He is a rabid firebrand (loose cannon) and openly calls for taking "badla" (revenge) on Muslims who criticize anything about ISKCON. And which has been carried out by ISKCON devotees, resulting in the murder of a CMM Court Lawyer and massive destruction of public and private property. Such actions by a specific minority religious group is unprecedented. It may be unprecedented in the whole subcontinent.

This cannot be tolerated by the govt. apparatus who maintain law and order. Law breakers (whomever they are) must be brought to book. Chinmoy will be subject to a trial and will face the sentencing given by the courts.

I'd say other political parties critical of ISKCON (BNP, the Hefazat and Jamaat in Chittagong) have all shown excellent restraint in the face of these untoward events affecting public life. They have issued proclamations - but that is about the extent of their actions.

But these public unrest events spawned by ISKCON (with the implied involvement of incumbent BJP govt. of India and their intelligence wing) cannot be tolerated by any govt. such as the one in Bangladesh currently. It is easy to understand why, as their puppet has been kicked out of Bangladesh.

Action against any law-breaker will be taken, regardless of the noise any foreign govt. makes.

Bangladesh' govt. is not anti-Hindu or anti-any-religion. However they will not tolerate targeted action to foment unrest.

Bangladesh is a sovereign country and has their own sovereign rules and laws.

 

[Sharma Ji]

Take a bulldozer to their temple

or better yet, set upon them a rabid mob, chisels and hammers in hand

ISIS style inki idols break karne ka

and make keema of the temple cow and wipe your azzez with the vedas

jo krna hai karo

 

[Bilal9]

Take a bulldozer to their temple

or better yet, set upon them a rabid mob, chisels and hammers in hand

ISIS style inki idols break karne ka

and make keema of the temple cow and wipe your azzez with the vedas

jo krna hai karo

Nothing of such nature shall be done.

Bangladeshis AFAIK are not into desecrating minority places of worship.

That is not how Bangladesh as a nation operates. There may be stray incidents of political revenge on Hindu Awami Leaguers, but that's about it.

However religious leaders like Chinmoy from ISKCON as an entity who get into killings, unrest and other unlawful activities will be arrested and sentenced.

A lawful nation cannot tolerate unlawful activities.

ISKCON Bangladesh already fired Chinmoy as a figurehead, they are distancing themselves against Chinmoy.

PBI (Police Bureau of Investigation) is also looking at how Chinmoy's frozen bank account had 14 crore Taka deposited only a few weeks ago and where it came from.

 

[Bilal9]

Two cases filed over killing of Ctg lawyer​

His father sues 31 for murder; brother files case against 115 including 70 lawyers, 2 journos

Saiful Islam Alif. Photo: Collected

Father of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, who was hacked to death during Tuesday's violence on the Chattogram court premises, yesterday filed a murder case against 31 named and 10 to 15 unidentified others.

Jamal Uddin lodged the case with Kotwali Police Station, Kazi Tarek Aziz, ADC (public relations) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star.

Most of the accused are the dwellers of Sebak Colony in the Bundle Road area of the port city, the ADC said. So far, nine people were arrested in connection with the killing after scrutinising CCTV footage, he added.

According to the case statement, the attackers -- some named in the FIR -- armed with weapons such as machetes, tridents, and cleavers -- carried out a premeditated attack on Saiful while chanting slogans in favour for former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who was arrested in a sedition case. Saiful was attacked on his way home.

The statement claimed that individuals affiliated with political organisations, including Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Awami League, either directly or indirectly instigated the murder.

It also mentioned that the plaintiff came to know that from Saiful's colleagues and local sources following his death.

On Tuesday, police, lawyers, and followers of Chinmoy, also spokesperson for Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, clashed when the followers blocked a prison van after a Chattogram court sent the former ISKCON leader to jail in a sedition case filed over disrespecting the national flag.

Chandan Das, a key accused in the murder case, was seen wearing a helmet with an orange T-shirt and a black pair of pants. He was carrying a sharp weapon and was seen hacking Saiful in the CCTV footage, said police.

Meanwhile, Saiful's brother Khan-e-Alam yesterday lodged another case accusing 115 people, including two local journalists of Chattogram, for attacking lawyers, vandalism, and exploding crude bombs on the court premises on Tuesday.

Among the accused, 70 are lawyers and two are journalists. Besides, 400-500 unidentified were sued under the Explosive Substances Act.

With the two new cases, a total of five cases have so far been lodged with Kotwali Police Station over the violence and killing.

Court sources said senior lawyer and former president of Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad Chandan Kumar Talukdar, Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary of Chattogram unit lawyer Nitai Prashad Ghosh, Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad acting secretary lawyer Nikhil Kumar Nath, lawyers Chandan Das, Rubel Paul, Suman Achharya, and Ashirbad Kumar Biswas are among the accused.

Sukhlal Das, former secretary of Chattogram Press Club and senior reporter of Dainik Azadi, and Ayan Sharma, adviser to local daily Chattogram Pratidin, were also sued in the case, the sources added.

Denying the allegation, lawyer Nikhil told journalists that slain lawyer Saiful was their colleague and brother. Those who murdered him must be punished. But the matter of sorrow is that 70 of the 115 accused are lawyers. All are members of Bijoya Sammilan Parishad, a platform of Hindu community lawyers in Chattogram.

"No lawyers were involved in any kind of vandalism or attacks," he claimed.

Journalist Sukhlal also dismissed the allegation brought against him.

Police also filed three cases against 79 named individuals and 1,400 unknown others over the assault, vandalism, and obstruction of police in performing their duties during Tuesday's clash.

Authorities have arrested 34 people, including nine suspects linked to Saiful's murder. The nine were identified after scrutinising the CCTV footage, according to police.

 

[Sharma Ji]

Nothing of such nature shall be done.

Bangladeshis AFAIK are not into desecrating minority places of worship.

That is not how Bangladesh as a nation operates. There may be stray incidents of political revenge on Hindu Awami Leaguers, but that's about it.

However religious leaders like Chinmoy from ISKCON as an entity who get into killings, unrest and other unlawful activities will be arrested and sentenced.

A lawful nation cannot tolerate unlawful activities.

ISKCON Bangladesh already fired Chinmoy as a figurehead, they are distancing themselves against Chinmoy.

PBI (Police Bureau of Investigation) is also looking at how Chinmoy's frozen bank account had 14 crore Taka deposited only a few weeks ago and where it came from.

ya, but I was saying

if you wanna get rid of them , that's also cool

Undertaker tombstome piledriver karo, game over

establish the caliphate

 

[Bilal9]

ya, but I was saying

if you wanna get rid of them , that's also cool

Undertaker tombstome piledriver karo, game over

establish the caliphate

What nonsense ?!?

Is Hindu or Muslim written on your forehead? One is free to worship whomever they like in Bangladesh.

Obviously you have never been to Bangladesh - you don't know our culture. It is nothing like India at present.

So many of our friends have multi-religious parents, they are free to chose whichever religion they like.

Bangladeshi Hindus are our own brothers and sisters, they would prefer to be dead before they went to India.

Bangladesh is their own country - why would they leave?

You need to visit Bangladesh someday so you can see what you don't know.

The only people attacking temples in Bangladesh are Awami Leaguers - out to cause trouble (some on Indian instigation as is being proven in a few cases).

 

[Bilal9]

Two South Asian Neighbors, Once Friendly, Are Now at Bitter Odds​

India and Bangladesh have traded angry accusations about Bangladesh’s Hindu minority.

Two South Asian Neighbors, Once Friendly, Are Now at Bitter Odds

India and Bangladesh have traded angry accusations about Bangladesh’s Hindu minority.

www.nytimes.com

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader in Bangladesh, has been accused of sedition under a colonial-era law. Credit...Reuters

Saif Hasnat and Anupreeta Das reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Mujib Mashal from New Delhi.
Nov. 28, 2024

Months of simmering tension between India and Bangladesh erupted into the open this week, as the once-friendly neighbors exchanged angry accusations after the arrest of a Hindu priest in Bangladesh on charges of sedition.

In August, Sheikh Hasina, an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, was toppled as Bangladesh’s leader by a popular uprising. She fled to India, and her continued presence there has strained relations between the interim government in Bangladesh and Mr. Modi’s government in New Delhi.

The caretaker administration in Bangladesh, led by the 84-year-old Nobel Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has expressed concern that Ms. Hasina is plotting a return to power from India. The interim Bangladeshi leaders have also accused India of exaggerating attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh to score political points at home.

The latest flashpoint was the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country where Hindus make up less than 10 percent of a population of 170 million.

In the past, Mr. Das was associated with an influential global Hindu organization, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, also known as ISKCON or the Hare Krishna Society.

A court in the Bangladeshi city of Chattogram sent him to pretrial detention under a colonial-era sedition law. His arrest came after a local politician complained that Mr. Das had disrespected the Bangladeshi flag by raising it lower than a saffron-color flag — a symbol of Hinduism — at a rally calling for an end to persecution of Hindus.

The events took a deadly turn when the monk’s supporters surrounded the court. As the security forces struggled to control the situation, a Muslim lawyer was hacked to death, police officials said. The killing was followed by reports of attacks and intimidation in Hindu neighborhoods.

It remains unclear who killed the lawyer. The police have arrested more than 20 people over the violence. The city’s lawyers have gone on strike to protest the killing.

In a statement, India’s Foreign Ministry said it was unfortunate that “a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings” was facing legal trouble while extremists behind attacks against minorities, including “desecration of deities and temples,” remained free.

The chapter of Mr. Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in the Indian state of West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh, has threatened to blockade the border if the monk is not released.

Bangladesh’s Hindus have long faced prejudice and persecution, and their numbers have shrunk in the face of growing intolerance and rising Islamist militancy.

Ms. Hasina ran a police state that coordinated closely with India and kept a lid on some of the extremist elements who have come out in the open since her fall. But deadly attacks against Hindus took place during her reign as well.

Officials in Mr. Yunus’s interim government have promised equal protection for all Bangladeshis. They have said that India has turned the plight of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority into an emotional political ploy to undermine the movement that toppled New Delhi’s favored leader, Ms. Hasina.

The officials point to an unabated barrage of exaggeration and disinformation emanating from India. Right-wing social media accounts and news media loyal to the Indian government often use terms like genocide to describe the widespread violence that left hundreds of people dead following Ms. Hasina’s ouster, though Hindu leaders in Bangladesh said that only a few were from their community.

In an interview with The New York Times last week, Mr. Yunus acknowledged that the relationship with Bangladesh’s giant neighbor was strained. He listed India’s protection of Ms. Hasina and what he said was “propaganda” from India painting his government as overrun by extremists as factors aggravating relations.

“She is in India. She keeps talking. That’s a bit destabilizing for the whole country,” he said. “And we try to draw attention to the Indian government that this is not fair. You are giving ground to somebody who was thrown out from Bangladesh, and you’re giving her a voice.”

Mr. Yunus said that India was “trying to project” an image that Bangladesh under him was becoming “like Afghanistan.” That, he said, was making the already difficult task of charting a new course for his country even harder.

“If you destabilize Bangladesh,” he said, “you destabilize yourself — because these elements of destabilization will spill over everywhere, all around us.”

But analysts said that Mr. Yunus’s government had not helped itself by jailing the monk under a colonial-era law that Ms. Hasina had used to crush dissent.

Some of her worst practices, such as mass cases against opposition members, have continued.

“Terms like ‘sedition’ and ‘conspiracy to destabilize the situation’ are being used, which we have seen before,” said Nur Khan Liton, an adviser to Bangladesh’s Human Rights Support Society, a watchdog.

Sarjis Alam, a leader of the student protests that toppled Ms. Hasina, called for a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh, labeling it an “extremist organization” that was aligning with India to “plot against us.”

ISKCON’s Bangladesh leaders said the group was law-abiding and expressed sadness at the death of the Muslim lawyer outside the courthouse. They have distanced themselves from Mr. Das after an initial statement of support.

 

[Sharma Ji]

What nonsense ?!?

Is Hindu or Muslim written on your forehead? One is free to worship whomever they like in Bangladesh.

Obviously you have never been to Bangladesh - you don't know our culture. It is nothing like India at present.

So many of our friends have multi-religious parents, they are free to chose whichever religion they like.

Bangladeshi Hindus are our own brothers and sisters, they would prefer to be dead before they went to India.

Bangladesh is their own country - why would they leave?

You need to visit Bangladesh someday so you can see what you don't know.

fine, keep them.

just be nice, poor vegetarian dharmis 🙁

son't become like Insanity in Iraq and Syria now

 

[Bilal9]

Bangladeshi court denies bail to Hindu leader who led rallies for minority protection

A prominent Bangladeshi Hindu leader who has been leading rallies demanding security for Hindus in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation has been ordered detained on charges of sedition

abcnews.go.com

 

[Bilal9]

fine, keep them.

just be nice, poor vegetarian dharmis 🙁

son't become like Insanity in Iraq and Syria now

You are out of your mind bud.

Bangladesh is nothing like Iraq or Syria.

And not all Hindus are vegetarian, some even consume goat meat and chicken on regular basis.

This love for protection of cows is less than a few hundred years old in India.

In any case - this is off topic, I digress.

 

[Bilal9]

Never mind the fact that India issuing instructions to a sovereign foreign govt. is tantamount to involving India in their internal affairs...but these days Indian MEA does it anyways. And that the Indian MEA and moreover, Indian Godi media is defending a child-molester just because he is Hindu.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ISKCON Suspended Bangladeshi Hindu Leader, Restricted Contact With Minors: Report​

Meanwhile, the MEA said that it expected the Bangladeshi legal system to deal with “cases against individuals” in a “in a just, fair and transparent manner”.

November 2024 Archives

The Wire

cms.thewire.in

New Delhi: Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the Hindu religious leader at the centre of a contentious sedition case in Bangladesh, remains suspended from ISKCON and was barred from having contact with minors and holding kirtans, as per a report.

The Bangla Outlook news outlet reported that the international child protection office at ISKCON, which stands for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, suspended Chinmoy Krishna in October last year and also restricted him from participating in public worship, among other things.

ISKCON child protection office director Kamalesh Krishna Das told Bangla Outlook that “due to the nature of the allegations, the suspension was necessary to facilitate the investigation”.

Das did not specify the allegations against Chinmoy Krishna, but ISKCON Bangladesh officials said at a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday (November 28) that he had been ‘expelled’ and alleged that he contravened orders to refrain from participating in the organisation’s activities after children made misconduct allegations against him, as per Prothom Alo.

The officials also said ISKCON would not bear responsibility over Chinmoy Krishna’s statements or speeches.

Progress in the investigation against Chinmoy Krishna “has been delayed by certain challenges, including his level of cooperation”, Bangla Outlook quoted Das as alleging.

On Friday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said of Chinmoy Krishna’s arrest earlier this week that it expected the legal system in Bangladesh would deal with “cases against individuals” in a “in a just, fair and transparent manner” that respects their legal rights and those of “all those who are concerned”.

It also noted that ISKCON was a “globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service”.

The MEA also registered concern “at the surge of extremist rhetoric” as well as the “increasing incidents of violence and provocation” against religious minorities in the country, adding to say that these developments could not be dismissed as “media exaggerations”.

Chinmoy Krishna was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 and ordered detained on sedition charges by a Chattogram court the next day.

His supporters gathered around the police van transporting him to jail, following which clashes erupted between them and police.

A Muslim lawyer identified as a prosecutor was killed amid the violence.

The charges allege that Chinmoy Krishna and others last month instigated a crowd to replace a Bangladeshi flag in Chattogram hoisted on the day former premier Sheikh Hasina fled the country with a saffron-coloured one of ISKCON’s, Prothom Alo reported.

The MEA, which previously issued a statement expressing “deep concern” at his detainment – to Dhaka’s chagrin – said on Friday that New Delhi had “consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities”.

“Our position on the matter is clear – the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.

Its references to “media exaggerations” follow statements from the interim government in Dhaka that reports of attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh after Hasina’s ouster were being “exaggerated” in Indian circles.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar said in a written statement in parliament on Friday that the Indian government had noted reports of violence against Hindus and attacks on temples occurring in Bangladesh around the time of Hasina’s ouster as well as during Durga Puja.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday “strongly condemn[ing]” the burning in effigy by Hindu protesters of interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus outside the country’s deputy high commission in Kolkata on Thursday.

It also condemned what it said was the burning of the Bangladeshi flag at the deputy high commission.

“Although the situation seems to be in control at the moment, there is a prevailing sense of insecurity among all the members of the deputy high commission,” the Bangladeshi foreign ministry said.

 

[Saif]

Lawyers want Chinmoy to be prime accused

Chattogram lawyers on Sunday in the port city staged demonstrations demanding inclusion of arrested Hindu community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das’ name as the prime accused in the...

www.newagebd.net

Lawyers want Chinmoy to be prime accused
Staff Correspondent . Chattogram 02 December, 2024, 00:46

Chinmoy Krishna Das

Chattogram lawyers on Sunday in the port city staged demonstrations demanding inclusion of arrested Hindu community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das’ name as the prime accused in the murder case filed over the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.

They also expressed anger at the fact that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, formerly a leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in short ISKCON, was not even named in the case statement.

Assistant public prosecutor in Chattogram Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death near Chattogram Court Building area on November 26 during clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and followers of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Chinmoy Krishna’s bail hearing in a sedition case is scheduled for tomorrow amid protests in Chattogram and elsewhere across the country.

Addressing a condolence rally in front of Sonali Bank on the court premises, Chattogram District Bar Association president Nazim Uddin Chowdhury said that Chinmoy Das should have been named as an accused in all the related cases, including the murder case filed over the lawyer killing, and the one filed over the November 26 clash on a Chattogram court premises.

‘We firmly believe Chinmoy Das should be the prime accused in all these cases. The lawyer community will not tolerate his exclusion from cases,’ said Nazim, adding that there was clear evidence in video footage and eyewitness accounts.

They also demanded prompt investigation into the murder case and submission of charge sheet at the earliest.

‘We will continue our protest till justice for advocate Saiful’s murder is delivered,’ he said.

Earlier in the day, lawyers, wearing black badges, staged a protest march that started from in front of the Sonali Bank on the court premises, passed through Laldighi and the Hawkers Market, and concluded in front of Doel Bhaban.

The court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam is scheduled to hear Chinmoy’s bail petition on Tuesday as the hearings on Wednesday and Thursday were not held amid boycott by lawyers, said Monir Hossen Sarker, bench assistant of the court.

Earlier, on November 26, the Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Chattogram rejected Chinmoy’s bail in a sedition case and ordered him to be sent to jail.

Five cases were filed so far over Saiful Islam Alif’s killing near court premises and vandalism and other offences.

The police have filed three of the cases and victim families filed the rest two, while 38 people, including nine in connection with Saiful killing, have been arrested.

Four days after the lawyer had been hacked to death, victim’s father Jamal Uddin filed a murder case with the Kotwali police against 31 named and 10–15 unidentified people on Saturday.

Saiful’s elder brother Khane Alam filed another case with the same police over attacks and vandalism perpetrated on a Chattogram court premises against 116 named individuals and 400–500 unnamed people.​