British MPs have expressed concern over attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. According to news agency PTI, opposition Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman said there are efforts to “safayo” (ethnic cleansing) Hindus in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's ouster.
During a debate in the House of Commons, Blackman said that houses of Hindus have been burnt in Bangladesh. Their shops and houses are being ransacked. Priests are being arrested. Blackman said that it is the responsibility of Britain to act in this matter, because it was they who liberated Bangladesh.
Foreign Office Minister Catherine West said that we are aware of the Indian government's concerns. West said she went to Bangladesh last month. During this time, the Yunus government assured them that they would protect the interests of the minorities.
Conservative MP Priti Patel said that violence is happening in Bangladesh, which the government cannot stop. We are very disturbed by this. Our sympathies are with the minority Hindus of Bangladesh. At the same time, Labor Party MP Barry Gardiner said the British government was monitoring the situation in Bangladesh.
British Conservative MP Priti Patel also expressed concern about the condition of Hindus.
America also expressed displeasure over the violence in Bangladesh The US has also expressed concern over attacks on Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh. According to news agency Reuters, Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the government needs to respect free speech, freedom and fundamental rights.
Patel said that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the interests of minorities. He said that the detained people should be given an opportunity to present their views. They should be treated according to human rights.
Vedant Patel answering questions about Bangladesh in a press conference.
Allegation- 70 Hindu lawyers were implicated in false cases Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent former leader of ISKCON in Bangladesh, was arrested in Dhaka last month after leading a protest in support of the Hindu community in Rangpur. He has been charged with treason. On November 26, the Dhaka court rejected his bail plea. Since then, tensions have escalated in the country.
Jagran Jot of Hindu organization Sanat in Bangladesh has alleged that the government has falsely implicated 70 Hindu lawyers in the case so that they cannot appear on behalf of Chinmay Prabhu.
Kolkata ISKCON vice president Radharaman Das has also opposed this decision of the Chittagong court. He posted on social media and said-
The day Chinmay Krishna Prabhu was arrested and produced in court for the first time, Regan Acharya was his lawyer. After the hearing, his chambers were ransacked and he was fatally attacked. How can a lawyer appear when Chinmay Krishna Das is targeted?
Who is Chinmaya Prabhu? Chinmaya Krishna Das Brahmachari's real name is Chandan Kumar Dhar. He is the head of Chittagong ISKCON. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country on August 5, 2024 amid the ongoing violence in Bangladesh. This was followed by large-scale violence against Hindus.
After this, the Sanatan Jagran Manch was formed to protect the interests of Bangladeshi Hindus and minorities. Chinmay Prabhu became its spokesman. Through the Sanatan Jagran Manch, Chinmay addressed several rallies in Chittagong and Rangpur. Thousands of people participated in it.
Why was Chinmay Prabhu arrested? On October 25, Sanatan Jagran Manch held a rally at Laldighi Ground in Chittagong with 8 point demands. In which Chinmay Krishna Das gave a speech. Meanwhile, some people hoisted the saffron flag on the Azadi Pillar in New Market Chowk. This flag had 'Aami Sanatani' written on it.
After the rally, on October 31, Feroze Khan, leader of Begum Khaleda's BNP party, filed a sedition case against 19 people, including Chinmoy Krishna Das, in Chittagong. He is accused of insulting the national flag.
What happened in Bangladesh in the last days?
26 November: Chinmoy Prabhu's bail plea rejected Former ISKCON chief Chinyam Krishna Das Prabhu's bail rejected in Chittagong. After this, violence broke out outside the court premises. In which lawyer Saiful Islam lost his life.
India expressed displeasure India expressed displeasure over the arrest of Chinmoy Prabhu. India's Ministry of External Affairs said it was unfortunate that criminals were roaming freely, but cases were being prosecuted against religious leaders who had made genuine demands through peaceful meetings.
Bangladesh ISKCON cleric walks out of court after bail plea rejected
27 November: Demand to ban ISKCON A petition was filed in the Bangladesh High Court seeking a ban on ISKCON. The lawyer who filed the petition told the court that ISKCON people are behind Saiful's death. In such a situation this organization should be banned. The petition also demanded declaration of emergency in Chittagong.
28 November: Demand to ban ISKCON rejected On September 28, the Dhaka High Court rejected the demand to ban ISKCON. Bangladesh's interim government told the court that it has taken necessary action against ISKCON's activities. This issue is a priority of the government.
Sheikh Hasina demanded the release of Chinmay Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also condemned the arrest of ISKCON's Chinmoy Prabhu on Thursday and asked the interim government to release him immediately. Hasina said that a prominent leader of Sanatan Dharma has been unjustly arrested.
ISKCON Bangladesh severed ties with Chinmoy Prabhu ISKCON Bangladesh dissociated itself from Chinmoy Prabhu. General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said that Chinmay has been removed from all posts in the organization for breach of discipline. They do not take responsibility for any of their statements or reactions.
ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Charu Chandra Das is giving a statement on the arrest of Brahmachari Chinmoy Prabhu.
29 November: ISKCON of India came in support of Chinmoy Prabhu The Indian branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) said Chinmoy Prabhu was not an official member of the organization, but supported his rights and freedom of speech. The organization said that we have not and will not distance ourselves from Chinmaya Prabhu.
India said- Bangladesh government should take responsibility for the security of Hindus The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Friday issued a statement on the arrest of ISKCON religious leader Chinmay Krishna Das Prabhu and the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has expressed its protest over the treatment of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
30 November: Arrest of Hindu priest Shyamdas Prabhu Another religious leader associated with ISKCON, Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested in Chittagong. Shyam went to meet Chinmoy Das in jail. He was arrested without a warrant. ISKCON Kolkata Vice Chairman and Spokesperson Radharaman Das gave this information.
Shyam Das Prabhu was arrested without any official warrant.
1 December: 83 members of ISKCON in Bangladesh stopped going to India Bangladesh Immigration Police stopped 54 members of ISKCON at the border who were traveling to India with valid passports and visas. These people were going to India to participate in a religious event. In this regard, the Immigration Police says that despite having valid passports and visas, they did not have special permission from the government. The next day, 29 people from ISKCON were stopped from entering India.
2 December: Mamata demanded to send a peacekeeping force to Bangladesh West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee demanded to send peacekeeping force to Bangladesh. Mamata said that the central government should talk to the United Nations for this. Along with this, he said that PM Modi should bring back Indians who are facing atrocities on foreign soil.
Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office ransacked in Tripura The office of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Tripura's capital Agartala was vandalized. Workers of Hindu Sangharsh Samiti staged demonstrations outside the office. Bangladesh expressed displeasure and demanded a full investigation from India.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
