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On Monday, 25 November, Dhaka police arrested Bangladesh ISKCON spokesperson Chinmay Das. After this, protests started in the country, which have not stopped till now. Especially, people in the capital Dhaka and the adjoining Shahbagh area are on the streets demanding the release of Chinmay Das.
According to media reports, Chinmay Das arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital Dhaka at 3:30 pm yesterday. He was going to Chittagong. Then some people in plain clothes entered the airport claiming to be members of the intelligence department and took him with them.
What are the allegations against Chinmay Das?
Dhaka Police has said that Chinmay Das has been arrested on the basis of a complaint filed against him. Das is accused of insulting the national flag of Bangladesh. These allegations have been made against Chinmay Das by former BNP leader Feroz Khan. Khan had alleged that a rally of the Hindu community was held in Chittagong on 25 October.
It was here that Chinmay Das and 18 other people disrespected the national flag of Bangladesh. However, the interesting thing is that Firoz Khan, who was then a leader of BNP, left BNP a few days after making the allegations, on charges of anti-party activities. Meanwhile, the police started investigating the matter and have arrested two people.
Who is Chinmay Das, why is he in the news?
Chinmay Das leads the Pundarik Dham, which operates from Chittagong (Bangladesh’s second largest city). Das, a prominent face of the Hindu community, is also known as the spokesperson of ISKCON. He has followers all over the country. Pundarik Dham is also a part of Bangladesh ISKCON.
Das has been very vocal about the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Ever since Sheikh Hasina’s government fell, he has strongly condemned the attacks on Hindus and other minorities.
Last month, through a press conference, Das had praised the support of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and other political parties in establishing communal harmony. He has also held meetings with parties like BNP for this purpose.
But along with this praise, Chinmay Das also criticized the interim government led by Professor Mohammad Yunus. Das alleged that Yunus’ government has failed to prevent nearly three thousand attacks on minority Hindus.
Bangladeshi Hindus and the recent violence
Hindus make up about 8 percent of Bangladesh’s population. The ISKCON to which Chinmay Das belongs has more than 77 temples in Bangladesh. About 50 thousand people are associated with this organization.
In the last few months, especially after the departure of Sheikh Hasina’s government, incidents of discrimination and violence against the Hindu community have increased in Bangladesh. From the United Nations to Donald Trump during the US presidential elections, this was taken cognizance of.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also mentioned this. Now, with the arrest of a vocal voice of the Hindu community, the situation is expected to worsen. If reports are to be believed, the protests demanding his release are also likely to turn violent.
