NEW DELHI, Nov 26 – India on Tuesday expressed “deep concern” over the arrest and denial of bail to Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu in Bangladesh, calling on authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities in the country.
Prabhu, a prominent Hindu figure associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested at Dhaka’s main airport on Monday as he was traveling to Chattogram, a southeastern city. Local media reports stated that the arrest was linked to charges of sedition filed against Prabhu in October, following his leadership of a rally in Chattogram where he was accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag.
Prabhu, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote, a group that advocates for the rights of Hindus. He was detained under a sedition charge, a move that India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned as part of a broader pattern of attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.
“We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote,” the MEA said in a statement. “This incident follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh, including arson, looting, and vandalism of homes and business establishments, as well as desecration of temples.”
India also pointed to the fact that perpetrators of these attacks often remain unpunished, while charges were brought against a religious leader advocating peacefully for the safety of his community.
The Ministry also expressed concern over reports of violence against peaceful protesters who rallied for Prabhu’s release. In Dhaka, Hindu demonstrators were attacked by a mob wielding sticks at Shahbagh intersection near Dhaka University, according to reports from Bengali-language daily Kalbela.
As news of Prabhu’s arrest spread, his supporters took to the streets in Chattogram and Dhaka to demand his release. In Chattogram, large crowds gathered, while in Dhaka, protests escalated into clashes. Local reports indicated that police forcibly detained Prabhu at the airport, seizing his phone in the process.
Kushal Baran Chakrabarty, a companion of Prabhu during his arrest, said several detectives surrounded them at the airport, attempting to confiscate Prabhu’s phone as he was taken away. Chakrabarty later followed the police car to the Detective Branch headquarters in Dhaka.
The arrest of Prabhu comes amid rising tensions surrounding the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh. India’s statement urged the Bangladeshi government to uphold the rights of Hindus and other minorities, emphasizing their right to peaceful assembly and expression.
In India, opposition parties have rallied behind Prabhu, with BJP leaders, including West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, staging protests in the state assembly, demanding his immediate release.
The Chenab Times News Desk