New Delhi: The situation surrounding ISKCON Bangladesh has taken a new turn, with ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das now alleging that “a group of Islamists” attacked advocate Ramen Roy in Bangladesh in retaliation for legally representing Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
“Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only ‘fault’ was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life,” Radharamn Das wrote in an X post.
On Tuesday, Radharamn Das alleged that another lawyer, Regan Acharya, was also attacked. “How can anyone lawyer appear for #ChinmoyKrishnaDas when they are being targeted?” he wrote on X, mentioning the incident.
Chinmoy Krishna Das was formerly associated with ISKCON and is currently the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, which has been protesting attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. On 25 November, he was arrested on sedition charges for allegedly hoisting ISKCON’s saffron flag over the Bangladesh national flag with his supporters during a rally in Chittagong on 25 October.
Speaking with ThePrint about the attack on Ramen Roy, Jewel Aich, a convener of the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote in Chattogram, said after Chinmoy Krishna Das’s arrest, Ramen Roy took part in a solidarity meeting on 26 November when a group of conservatives chanting Islamic slogans—possibly from Jamaat or Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—allegedly attacked him.
“We are not sure if they were from Jamaat or not, but they were conservative people who attacked him,” Aich added.
He added that Roy was not officially representing Das, but the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote members contacted him in case the Dhaka High Court denied Chinmoy Krishna Das bail. On Tuesday, the court postponed the bail hearing for Chinmoy Krishna Das to 2 January 2025 after no lawyers appeared for him in court Tuesday.
On 1 December, the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote accused authorities of filing a false case against roughly 70 Hindu lawyers under the Explosives Act. Filed at the Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram, the case aimed to prevent lawyers from representing Chinmoy Krishna Das, the organisation’s members told ThePrint.
“A mob of people came and attacked the offices of these lawyers. They ransacked their chambers and threatened them,” Aich added.
The alleged attack on Roy is the latest in a series of events that has landed ISKCON and its affiliates at the center of a political storm in Bangladesh. Both local and international condemnation followed Chinmoy Krishna Das’s arrest, which also led to violent protests by his followers in Bangladesh.
The recently formed Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote criticised the arrest in its official statement, calling it a violation of the rule of law and human rights. It specifically condemned the refusal to allow any lawyer to be present on behalf of Chinmoy Krishna Das during a hearing before Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam. It highlighted that 70 lawyers who previously represented Das in the case now stand charged while others face threats and intimidation.
The organisation called for immediate action from the Yunus-led interim government, urging it to release Chinmoy Krishna Das and uphold his legal rights. It also questioned the independence of the judiciary, warning that if the situation continues, it would jeopardise the safety and security of all citizens, especially the Sanatani community in Bangladesh.
ISKCON expelled Das over child abuse charges
Chinmoy Krishna Das’s arrest has become a focal point in discussions surrounding religion and nationalism in Bangladesh amid a fraught political climate.
ISKCON expelled Das earlier this year following disciplinary violations, including allegations of child abuse. Despite his expulsion, Das remained an influential figure in the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Jewel Aich said the 42-year-old Hindu monk had been an active member of ISKCON since his youth and still has a mass following in Bangladesh, especially in Chattogram, where he helped build temples.
“He is one of the most revered humans here who stood up for Hindus when we were in danger,” Aich added.
A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) filed the case against Das after the flag row. The subsequent arrest sparked protests by his followers, escalating into violent clashes between Hindu demonstrators and the security forces and leading to the death of a Supreme Court lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif.
Following the violence, Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam demanded a ban on ISKCON. Despite this, ISKCON Bangladesh has sought to distance itself from Chinmoy Krishna Das, clarifying the organisation expelled him and that his actions were his own.
At a press conference on 28 November 2024, Hrishikesh Gourango Das, a member of the Child Protection Team of ISKCON Bangladesh, revealed that multiple children accused Chinmoy Das of abuse. Initially, he was suspended from the organisation for three months and from his position at Pundarik Dham to allow an investigation. However, Das failed to comply with instructions, which led to his permanent expulsion.
In July 2024, ISKCON Bangladesh expelled him, citing the breach of discipline during his tenure as the divisional organisational secretary for Chittagong. Later, following specific allegations, ISKCON’s International Child Protection Office (CPT) imposed a temporary ban on Chinmoy Krishna Das.
ISKCON’s Bangladesh legacy in a crossfire
ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, has maintained a strong presence in Bangladesh for decades—particularly, through its Pundarik Dham temple in Chittagong.
The organisation, known globally for promoting the teachings of Lord Krishna, has faced considerable challenges in Bangladesh, where it often gets caught in the crossfire of religious and political tensions.
ISKCON has earned goodwill in many countries through its charitable initiatives, including the ‘Food for Life’ programme, which serves millions of meals worldwide. However, its mission faces resistance in Bangladesh where religious nationalism and sectarian tensions are on the rise.
Some Islamist factions in Bangladesh accuse ISKCON of destabilising religious harmony in Bangladesh and being complicit in spreading Hindu propaganda.
In response to the escalating crisis, ISKCON has reiterated that its operations in Bangladesh are peaceful and charitable. “We are not here to create division, but to spread the message of peace and devotion to God,” an ISKCON spokesperson earlier said.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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