International
oi-Prakash KL
Days
after
the
arrest
of
spiritual
leader
Chinmoy
Krishna
Das,
another
Hindu
priest
named
Shyam
Das
Prabhu
was
arrested
in
Bangladesh’s
Chattogram
on
Saturday.
ISKCON
Kolkata
spokesperson
and
Vice
President
Radharamn
Das
confirmed
the
arrest
on
social
media,
sparking
outrage
among
followers
and
activists.
Taking
to
the
platform
X,
Radharamn
Das
expressed
his
dismay,
sharing
a
photograph
of
the
arrested
priest
with
the
caption,
“Does
he
look
like
a
terrorist?
#FreeISKCONMonks
Bangladesh.
The
arrest
of
innocent
#ISKCON
brahmacharis
is
deeply
shocking
and
disturbing.”
Chinmoy
Krishna
Das,
whose
arrest
on
sedition
charges
earlier
this
week
led
to
widespread
protests
across
Bangladesh
and
India,
remains
in
custody
after
being
denied
bail
by
a
Chattogram
court.
India
has
since
voiced
“deep
concern” over
the
developments,
urging
the
Bangladeshi
government
to
ensure
the
safety
and
security
of
its
minority
Hindu
population.
The
situation
has
highlighted
the
precarious
position
of
Bangladesh’s
Hindu
minority,
which
constitutes
just
8%
of
the
nation’s
170
million
people.
Since
the
fall
of
Sheikh
Hasina’s
Awami
League
government
on
August
5,
over
200
reported
attacks
on
Hindus
have
occurred
across
more
than
50
districts,
creating
a
climate
of
fear
and
uncertainty.
On
Friday,
tensions
further
escalated
as
a
mob
targeted
three
Hindu
temples
in
Chattogram,
vandalizing
the
Shantaneshwari
Matri
Temple,
Shoni
Temple,
and
Shantaneshwari
Kalibari
Temple.
Witnesses
reported
that
the
mob,
chanting
anti-Hindu
and
anti-ISKCON
slogans,
hurled
brickbats
and
damaged
temple
structures.
The
Shoni
Temple
was
significantly
damaged,
and
gates
of
the
other
two
temples
were
also
affected.
Kotwali
Police
Station
chief
Abdul
Karim
confirmed
the
attacks,
stating
that
assailants
attempted
to
destroy
the
temples.
Local
authorities
are
on
high
alert
as
the
unrest
continues
to
spread.
In
a
further
blow
to
ISKCON-linked
individuals,
the
Bangladesh
Financial
Intelligence
Unit
(BFIU)
has
frozen
the
bank
accounts
of
17
people
associated
with
the
organization,
including
Chinmoy
Krishna
Das.
The
freeze
order,
issued
on
Thursday,
will
remain
in
effect
for
30
days,
impacting
several
financial
institutions
across
the
country,
according
to
the
Prothom
Alo
newspaper.
While
the
Bangladeshi
government
has
assured
a
fair
trial
for
Chinmoy
Krishna
Das,
as
stated
by
Chief
Advisor
Muhammad
Yunus’ press
secretary
Shafikul
Islam,
the
arrests
and
increasing
violence
against
the
Hindu
community
have
drawn
widespread
criticism.
Protesters
are
demanding
immediate
action
to
protect
the
rights
of
minorities
and
ensure
justice
for
those
wrongfully
detained.
