A petition has been filed in the Bangladesh High Court seeking a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) amid rising attacks on the Hindu community in the country. The petition also calls for a state of emergency to be declared in Chittagong and Rangpur to prevent further unrest, as protests have been erupting in both cities.
The court has directed the government to take action on the matter. The petition was presented by lawyer Moniruzzaman before a bench of Justices Farah Mahbub and Debashish Roy Chowdhury on Wednesday.
Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman stated that some elements are trying to destabilize the country, and the government has initiated discussions with political parties to address the ongoing issues. He emphasized that the government is focused on handling the situation by fostering national unity. The High Court expressed concern over the law and order situation and instructed the government to submit a report by the next day detailing its actions regarding ISKCON and the recent events surrounding it.
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This petition comes in the wake of protests by the Hindu community following the arrest and denial of bail to monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, who was charged with sedition. Prabhu has been an outspoken advocate for the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh, organizing protests to demand greater security for the religious minority. He was arrested on November 25 at Dhaka Airport and taken into custody on charges of sedition. His arrest sparked protests outside a Chittagong court, during which a lawyer was reportedly killed in the violence.
In response to these developments, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern, urging the Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minority groups. The MEA also called on Bangladesh to uphold the right of peaceful assembly and expression for all citizens. The Ministry also condemned the attacks on Hindus protesting for Prabhu’s release.
