New Delhi: A prominent Hindu leader from Bangladesh, who has been leading rallies demanding safety for Hindus in the Muslim-majority country, was ordered detained on Tuesday on sedition charges. The magistrate court of Qazi Shariful Islam refused to grant bail to Krishna Das Prabhu and ordered him to be kept in custody till further proceedings. A lawyer was killed and several people were injured in the clashes that broke out following the court order on Tuesday.
Why is Bangladesh boiling?
When police attempted to take the Hindu leader to jail, hundreds of his supporters surrounded the van carrying him, forcing it to stop for more than an hour before security officials managed to disperse the crowd. To release tear gas shells. The protesters threw stones at the police, after which the road was cleared and Prabhu was taken to jail. As tensions escalated, dozens of Muslims were shown on live TV joining security officers, chasing Hindu protesters and throwing stones at them. United News of Bangladesh news agency quoted a police officer as saying that lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed during the melee. Some reports blamed Hindu protesters for the killing, but details were unclear.
Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari?
Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), widely known as the Hare Krishna movement, and serves as the group’s spokesperson in Bangladesh. He is a prominent Hindu leader and a respected person. He is a member of Bangladesh Samhito Sanatan Jagran Jote group.
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What are the charges against Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari?
Brahmachari was charged with treason in October after he led a massive rally in Chittagong, accusing him of insulting the national flag of Bangladesh. Earlier, on October 30, a case was registered against 19 people, including Das, at Chittagong’s Kotwali police station, accusing them of insulting the national flag of Bangladesh in Chittagong’s New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community. Had gone. He was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area of Dhaka when he was on his way to Chittagong.
It is noteworthy that since August, Brahmachari has led several large rallies demanding safety of Hindus, while the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has said that reports of attacks have been exaggerated. . Many in the interim government see the Hindu rallies as a threat to stability and a move to rehabilitate Hasina and her Awami League party.
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Hindus in Bangladesh
Hindus and members of other minority groups say they face more attacks than ever since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid a large-scale rebellion in August and an interim government took power. The government says that the threat to Hindus has been exaggerated. About 91% of the population of Bangladesh is Muslim, while almost the entire rest of the population is Hindu.
what does india say
The Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” in a statement on Tuesday. “This incident follows several attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. The statement said several cases of arson and looting of minority homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, have been recorded. It also condemned attacks on peaceful protests by Hindus.
Urges Bangladesh authorities to ensure safety of Hindus and all minorities
“We urge the Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression,” the ministry wrote.
What Bangladesh government has to say on the arrest Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night criticized India’s response, saying the issue is an “internal matter” of Bangladesh. The statement said, “It is with a sense of extreme disappointment and deep pain that the Government of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misinterpreted by some quarters as that Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on specific charges. Has been done.”
Bangladesh also said India’s statement misrepresents the facts and contradicts the spirit of friendship and understanding between the neighboring countries. The statement issued by Bangladesh said that India’s statement does not reflect the harmony that exists among people of all religions and also the commitment and efforts of the government and people in this regard.
Why are Hindu-Muslim groups involved in deadly clashes?
The secular party, which has long held power, is seen as a protector of Hindu minorities and has close ties with neighboring India. Hundreds of Hasina’s supporters, including several close aides, are believed to have fled to India after her fall.
On Tuesday, authorities in Dhaka and Chittagong deployed paramilitary border guards to prevent any violence. Prabhu’s followers took to the streets in Chittagong and Dhaka on Monday to demand his release. In Dhaka, a mob armed with sticks attacked Hindu protesters at Shahbagh intersection near Dhaka University on Monday night. Bengali-language daily Kalbela said in a video report on Monday night that the attackers chased Hindu protesters away from the area.
Hasina fled the country on August 5 after student-led protests turned into a large-scale rebellion, ending her 15-year rule. The country’s security agencies are struggling to maintain order, as police agencies remain demoralized following the killing of dozens of police members during mass uprisings in July and August.
