Hindu Spiritual Leader’s Arrest Being ‘Misconstrued’: Bangladesh To UN Forum

The arrest of a Hindu leader in Dhaka has been “misconstrued” and he was arrested on specific charges, Bangladesh has told a UN forum on minority issues, claiming that there has been no systematic attack on minorities in the country.

Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday. He was denied bail and sent to jail by the Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court in a sedition case on Tuesday.

“With utter dismay, we note that the arrest of Chinmoy Das has been misconstrued by some speakers, although he was actually arrested on specific charges. The matter is being dealt with by our court of law,” Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Offices and other international organisations in Geneva Tareq Md Ariful Islam said.

Islam made the statement during the 17th session of the Forum on Minorities Issues that took place in Geneva on November 28-29.

After Das, the leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was sent to prison, it triggered protests by Hindus in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram.

India has noted the developments with deep concern even as a diplomatic row has erupted between the two South Asian neighbours.

During the session, some Bangladeshi NGOs and individuals spoke about the situation in the country. A representative of the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh (IFSB) said that the situation right now in the country is “very alarming” and a “very burning issue.” Referring to Das’ arrest, the representative said that ISKCON is a very popular and peaceful organisation but the former ISKCON leader has been arrested with “nothing accused against him. He was arrested three days before in Dhaka and now Bangladesh every day …. the police, army … every day, they are torturing the minority.”

Islam said that Bangladesh reaffirms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of religious identity, has the right to practice their respective religion or express views freely. “Ensuring safety and security of every citizen, including from the minority community, remains the cornerstone of the interim government of Bangladesh,” Islam said.

“This has been repeatedly reassured to minority religious leaders by our top leadership, and proved time and again in the first 100 days” of the interim government led by the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, he added.

The post August 5 violence in Bangladesh was rooted in political and personal factors, not sectarian, he noted. “The violence affected people, mostly with partisan political affiliations, almost all of them being Muslims, and only a few from other religious minority groups.” Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 following widespread protests against her Awami League-led government over a controversial job quota system. Three days later, Yunus, a Nobel laureate, took over as the Chief Adviser of the interim government.

Ariful Islam said that “there was no systematic attack on minorities” and following the mass uprising in July, the world witnessed “how the entire society of Bangladesh came forward to protect its minorities.” He added that “unfortunately” there have been “a fiery of exaggerated, unfounded and fake reports and deliberate spread of misinformation and disinformation by vested quarters regarding minority persecution. Sadly, we saw it happening at this forum too.” He said the Bangladeshi government “remains vigilant and will continue to act promptly to maintain religious harmony at any cost and thwart any attempt to undermine rights of minorities.” Following this week’s anti-Hindu incidents — including Das’ arrest and attacks on Hindu temples and community members — India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the “surge” of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence against Hindus as well as attacks on temples.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that India has taken serious note of incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and that it is the primary responsibility of Dhaka to protect the life and liberty of all the citizens, including minorities.

On the other hand, Bangladesh on Friday expressed deep concern over the violent protest at the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and urged New Delhi to ensure the safety of all its diplomatic missions in India.