Amid growing unrest in Bangladesh following the arrest of Hindu pandit Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari by Dhaka police, several Hindu Mandirs in Chattogram were allegedly attacked by mobs. The arrest of the former ISKCON leader sparked widespread protests, with the Hindu community demanding his release and seeking justice for the persecution of Hindus, which they claim has intensified since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a related incident, more than 50 Islamists reportedly attacked the Basudev Mukuntha Dham Mandir in Patia Upazila, Chattogram, late at night, around 11-12 pm. The Mandir, which ISKCON operates, became the focus of the attack by Islamic radicals. In response, local Hindus gathered and armed themselves with sticks, forcing the attackers to flee. A similar assault took place at Loknath Mandir in Firingibazar, where a mob of Islamists armed with sticks, rods, and swords attacked the Mandir. They pelted stones, broke the Mandir gate, entered the premises, and destroyed the murtis. These incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks on Hindu Mandirs and religious symbols in Bangladesh.
On November 22, Islamists attacked the renowned Kali Mandir in North Magura, breaking murtis before being apprehended by local Hindus and handed over to the police. Earlier, on November 11, a similar incident occurred when an individual named Humayun vandalised murtis at a Mandir in Chamata village, under Baliakandi in Rajbari district. Additionally, on October 10, 2024, Islamists stole the gold crown from the famous Kali Mandir in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, a crown that had been dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021. The attacks are not isolated. On August 21, 2024, Islamists vandalised the Radhagobind Loknath Nat Mandir in Kaliakair, Gazipur, and prior to that, Hindu devotees were assaulted and the Shibtala Karmakar Mandir in Chapainawabganj was ransacked by Muslim extremists. These repeated acts of violence against Hindus and their religious sites have raised serious concerns about the growing intolerance and the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh. The actions of Islamist groups appear increasingly aimed at erasing Hindu cultural and religious identity in the country, while the government’s response remains insufficient to curb the violence.
Radharamn Das, a spokesperson for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), posted a video on his X account showing an alleged mob attack on the temple. He captioned the post, “24/7 attacks on Hindus and Hindu places of worship in #Bangladesh. When will it all STOP?”
24×7 attack on Hindus & Hindu places of worship in #Bangladesh. When will it all STOP? @TulsiGabbard @realDonaldTrump @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/8fSsx2N1Ny
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 27, 2024
In the post, Radharamn Das also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and his cabinet nominee Tulsi Gabbard.
Meanwhile, ISKCON Bangladesh issued a statement condemning the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and the subsequent violence targeting Sanatanis across the country. The statement emphasised, “Chinmoy Krishna Das and the Sanatani community deserve justice as citizens of Bangladesh, and we stress that any form of discrimination against them must not be tolerated.”
Statement from ISKCON Bangladesh regarding the current situation in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das shared earlier today to the press.#FreeChinmoyKrishnaDas #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/8I0BWhmbWb
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 26, 2024
Chinmoy Krishna Das: ISKCON leader arrested
Chandan Kumar Dhar Prokash, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is a prominent spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and the head of Pundarik Dham, a religious site operated by ISKCON in Chittagong. The monk was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday, later being arrested on charges of sedition.
The case against him alleges that he hoisted a flag on top of a stand displaying Bangladesh’s national flag. However, the individual who originally filed the sedition charge has since distanced himself from the case, stating that he no longer wishes to pursue it, according to a minority leader.
Sources within ISKCON Chittagong told that Chinmoy Krishna Das hails from Satkania Upazila in the port city of Chittagong. Known for his early rise as a popular religious preacher, he earned the nickname “Shishu Bokta.” From 2016 to 2022, he served as the Chittagong Divisional Secretary of ISKCON and has been the Principal of Pundarik Dham in Hathazari since 2007.
Violence Against Minorities in Bangladesh
The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das comes amid growing tensions over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, where the Hindu community and other religious minorities have faced increasing persecution. Since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country has witnessed a surge in political violence, much of it driven by Islamist forces. Under the current military-backed interim government led by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, violence against religious minorities has escalated, with little to no action taken to protect them.
Hindus, who make up around 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have been particularly targeted by radical Islamist groups. Attacks on Hindu Mandirs, religious leaders, and homes have become more frequent, often with the tacit approval or indifference of authorities. Islamist mobs have been emboldened by the failure of the government to curb such violence, further aggravating the sense of insecurity among religious minorities. The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das is just one example of the broader pattern of harassment and intimidation faced by Hindus and other non-Muslim communities in the country. The situation reflects a deeper crisis of religious freedom in Bangladesh, where Hinduism, once a vibrant part of the cultural fabric, now faces increasing challenges from violent, radical forces.
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