A mob on Friday attacked three Hindu temples in Bangladesh‘s Chattogram, where protests and violence erupted after sedition charges were filed against a former Iskcon member. The incident occurred at 2.30 pm (BDT) in the port city’s Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, targeting the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shani Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple.
The temple authorities said that slogan-shouting people’s brickbats caused damage to the three Hindu religious sites.
According to Bangladesh’s officials, assailants attempted to damage the temples. The authorities reported minimal damage following the confrontation between the groups, who exchanged brickbats.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, formerly associated with Iskcon Bangladesh, was arrested on Monday for sedition charges and denied bail on Tuesday, sparking protests by Hindu community members across Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram.
On October 30, authorities filed a sedition case against 19 individuals, including Das, at Chattogram’s Kotwali Police Station, alleging disrespect towards Bangladesh’s national flag during a Hindu community rally in New Market area.
Bangladesh freezes accounts of 17 people allegedly connected to Iskcon
The Bangladesh financial intelligence unit has directed the freezing of the bank accounts of 17 individuals allegedly connected to Iskcon Bangladesh, including imprisoned Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, for a duration of 30 days.
The directive was issued on Thursday to various banks and organisations, following the high court’s refusal to issue a suo motu order prohibiting Iskcon’s operations in Bangladesh amidst Hindu protests over Chinmoy Krishna’s sedition charges. Iskcon Bangladesh has distanced itself from Das, saying he was previously expelled with two others for disciplinary violations before his arrest. The BFIU order, based on the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2012, says, “All types of transactions in the bank accounts of these individuals (named in the document) will remain suspended for 30 days.”
The account freezing announcement coincided with Hefazate-Islam Bangladesh’s street demonstrations in Dhaka, demanding Iskcon’s prohibition and labelling it a “terrorist-militant organisation”. The religious group also protested the death of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif during unrest in Chattogram, reportedly connected to Chinmoy Krishna’s bail denial. Hefazat supporters claimed Iskcon members damaged mosques and were responsible for advocate Saiful’s alleged murder.
The interim administration released a statement criticising the “desecration of the national flag and burning of an effigy of chief adviser Yunus” during demonstrations in Kolkata.
India urges Bangladesh to ensure safety of Hindus
India expressed concerns on Tuesday regarding the leader’s arrest and bail denial, urging Bangladesh to ensure the protection of Hindus and other minorities.
These incidents have created diplomatic tensions between the neighbouring countries. India said on Friday that Bangladesh’s interim government must protect all minorities, expressing serious concern about extremist rhetoric and increasing violence against Hindus and temple attacks.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed Parliament that India has noted the violence against minorities in Bangladesh seriously, emphasising Dhaka’s responsibility to protect all citizens’ rights. He further added that the Indian high commission in Dhaka is closely monitoring the situation.
“Our position on the matter is clear — the interim govt in Dhaka must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at surge of extre mist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration,” ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing the unrest in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh responded on Friday by expressing deep concern about the violent protest at their deputy high commission in Kolkata, requesting New Delhi to ensure the safety of all Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India.
