The Dhaka high court on Thursday declined to issue a suo motu order “to ban ISKCON’s activities in Bangladesh”, after being informed that the government had already taken necessary actions, The Daily Star reported.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Monir Uddin had submitted newspaper reports on ISKCON’s activities and requested the court to impose a ban and enforce Section 144 in Chattogram, Rangpur, and Dinajpur.
The court then asked the attorney general to report the government’s actions concerning the ISKCON. On Thursday, the attorney general’s office informed the court that three cases had been filed regarding the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif and ISKCON’s activities, with 33 people arrested.
The bench emphasised the need for the government to ensure law and order and protect the lives and property of Bangladesh’s citizens.
What did the petition say?
Amid rising concerns over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, a new petition has been filed calling for a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the country. The legal notice accuses the organisation of being a “radical organisation” involved in activities that threaten national security and stir up communal unrest.
The petition, submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Al Mamun Russell on behalf of 10 other legal professionals, demands the prosecution of those responsible for the alleged murder of government legal officer Advocate Saiful Islam.
The arrest of a prominent Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) monk amidst rising violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh has sparked outrage across India and among Hindu leaders worldwide.
The incident comes as Bangladesh grapples with escalating communal tensions following the coup that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power on August 5, leaving the country’s minority communities vulnerable, reported The Times of India (ToI).
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a senior Iskcon monk and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was detained by Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s detective branch on Monday. Police Spokesperson Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrest, but declined to disclose the charges. Reports suggest the monk is accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag at a rally in October in Chattogram, where he allegedly hoisted a saffron flag.
Das, known for leading protests against atrocities on Hindus, was apprehended at Dhaka airport while en route to Chattogram. A local court denied his bail and sent him to jail, further fuelling tensions.
The notice was directed to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Inspector General of Police on Wednesday.
As per the Dhaka Tribune report, the notice claims ISKCON operates in Bangladesh as a “radical organisation,” allegedly fueling sectarian violence and promoting religious intolerance.
The petition also links ISKCON to the alleged murder of a lawyer during protests following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, attributing it to the group’s “blatant disregard for law and order.”
Since the political upheaval in August, Bangladesh’s interim government under Muhammad Yunus has struggled to contain violence targeting minorities. Hindu leaders claim over 3,600 attacks on their community occurred between 2013 and 2021, with incidents of vandalism, arson, and desecration of temples increasing under the current regime.
Hindu organisations, including Iskcon, have mobilised protests demanding stronger legal protections and the establishment of a minority affairs ministry. However, Yunus has downplayed the violence, attributing it to political unrest and accusing India of exaggerating the crisis.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement, condemning Das’ arrest, calling it “unfortunate” that a peaceful religious leader was detained while perpetrators of attacks against minorities remain at large.
