Bangladesh: Hindu hater Mohammed Yunus’s government arrests ISKCON priest Krishna Das Prahu; Protests erupt

In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Dhaka police arrested prominent Hindu leader and ISKCON monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, on November 25. Krishna Das Prabhu, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was apprehended at Dhaka Airport and subsequently taken to the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police office on Minto Road.

Swatantro Gouranga Das Brahmachari, member of the managing committee of ISKCON Prabartak Sri Krishna Mandir said “Chinmoy went to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 3:30 pm to catch a flight to Chattogram.’

“From his personal assistant, I found out that some plainclothes men introducing themselves as members of the detective branch picked him up from the entrance of the airport,” he said.

“So far we have information that he was taken to the DB office at Minto Road in Dhaka,” he added.

The arrest has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, with many accusing Bangladesh’s interim government headed by Mohammed Yunus of targeting Hindu leaders amidst escalating religious tensions in the country.

Radharamn Das, ISKCON spokesperson expressed his anguish over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu by the Dhaka police.

I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in this difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location. Kind attention @ihcdhaka @DrSJaishankar… pic.twitter.com/J9MszoBUvy

— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 25, 2024

Who is Krishna Das Prabhu?

Krishna Das Prabhu is a revered Hindu figure in Bangladesh, known for his unwavering advocacy for the rights and safety of Hindu minorities. As a senior monk of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and spokesperson for the organisation, he has been at the forefront of addressing issues of religious discrimination and violence against the Hindu community.

In addition to his ISKCON role, Krishna Das is a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group. He has consistently raised his voice against hate crimes targeting Hindus and has led several peaceful protests demanding justice and protection for the minority community, which constitutes approximately 8% of Bangladesh’s population.

Arrest Sparks Protests And Condemnation From Various Quarters

The detention of Krishna Das Prabhu follows an October case filed against him for allegedly disrespecting the Bangladeshi national flag during a rally in Chittagong. The rally, which he led, sought justice for Hindus who have been victims of targeted attacks. His vocal leadership and activism have made him a prominent figure, but they have also brought him into the crosshairs of political controversies.

The Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad in a statement condemned Chinmoy’s arrest. Its presidents Ushaton Talukder, Prof Dr Nim Chandra Bhowmik, and Nirmal Rozario and acting general secretary Manindra Kumar Nath demanded the release of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote spokesperson Prabhu Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in the national interest.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad in a separate statement also expressed deep concern over the arrest and demanded his immediate release.

Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote is an alliance of different Hindu organisations. Chinmoy is also the principal of Sri Sri Pundarik Dham, a Hindu temple at Chattogram’s Hathazari upazila.

The arrest has triggered protests among Hindu communities both within Bangladesh and abroad. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari criticised the arrest, describing it as part of the Hindu minority’s “fight for survival.”

Renowned firebrand Hindu Leader; Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been abducted by the Detective Branch at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh.
He is leading the fight for the survival & dignity of the Hindu Minorities of Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi Sanatani Community fear that Md… pic.twitter.com/n5Bb6Zk2JM

— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 25, 2024

Kanchan Gupta, a senior advisor to India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, condemned the move as a “targeted attempt to stifle voices of protest.”

Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported arrested in Dhaka by Yunus Regime Police.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from…

— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) November 25, 2024

Denouncing the action of the Bangladesh government, Hindu Jagaran Manch, UttarBanga Pranta stated that strongly believes that Government of India must react strictly against the crime against Hindus in Bangladesh. The Manch further said, “We blatantly condemn the arrest of a Sannyasi and demand his immediate release. Today ISKCON priest Krishna Das Prahu and the only Advocate for Hindus in Bangladesh has been arrested at Dhaka airport and taken to unknown place. For the last few months Bangladesh has been witnessing unprecedented attack on Hindus. Innumerable murder, rape, looting, arson is going on. Krishna Das Prabhu is the one who has been uniting Hindus and protesting against these atrocities. We blatantly condemn the arrest of a Sannyasi and demand his immediate release.”

Religious tensions have been on the rise in Bangladesh, with the Hindu community frequently facing violence and discrimination. Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, incidents of hate crimes against minorities have reportedly surged, raising concerns about the safety and rights of Hindus in the country.