The High Court (HC) of Bangladesh on Wednesday directed the government to clarify its position regarding the Hindu religious organization ISKCON, its activities, and the measures it has taken concerning the group.
The directive came during a hearing of a writ petition seeking a ban on ISKCON and the imposition of Section 144 in Chattogram and Rangpur to prevent potential unrest. The court instructed Attorney General Asaduzzaman to present the government’s stance by Thursday, according to the United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
In the meantime, Chittagong Police have arrested at least six individuals suspected of involvement in the death of advocate Saiful Islam during clashes that erupted when police attempted to transport Sanatan Jagran Manch spokesperson Chinmoy Prabhu to jail. Official sources confirmed that an additional 21 individuals have been detained for their alleged involvement in vandalism and attacks on law enforcement during the clash at the Chittagong court premises on Tuesday.
Chinmoy Krishna Das of ISKCON Pundrik Dham and the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote have been advocating for the rights and safety of the Hindu community across Bangladesh, issuing an eight-point demand to safeguard minorities.
Chinmoy Prabhu was arrested by Dhaka police on Monday at the airport as he was about to board a flight to Chittagong. He was subsequently brought before a Chattogram court on Tuesday in connection with a “sedition” case. The court rejected his bail plea and ordered judicial custody.
Following the court’s decision, hundreds of Chinmoy Prabhu’s supporters surrounded the police van transporting him, halting it for over an hour. Security personnel eventually dispersed the crowd using tear gas and batons.
The sedition case against Chinmoy Prabhu and 18 others was filed on October 30 at the Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong. The charges stem from allegations of hoisting a saffron flag above the national flag of Bangladesh during a public rally at Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan on October 25.
Chinmoy Prabhu’s activities, including major public rallies of the Hindu community in Chattogram on October 25 and Rangpur on November 22, have sparked significant discussion in Bangladesh’s socio-political circles.
