Sporadic clashes erupted in Bangladesh over the past 24 hours following the arrest of ISKCON saint and Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu. Violence escalated after he was denied bail, resulting in the death of a lawyer and injuries to several others.
Reports of confrontations between Hindu protesters and security forces came from Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rangpur. Police used batons to disperse the demonstrators, leading to injuries.
Authorities confirmed that the lawyer died after being hit by bricks thrown by protesters. The interim government of Bangladesh has ordered an investigation into the lawyer’s death.
Police have detained 30 individuals, all from the minority Hindu community. A government statement emphasised its commitment to maintaining communal harmony.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the arrest and the violence against Hindus, calling out the lack of action against perpetrators of vandalism and desecration targeting minorities in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry responded, stating that the judiciary operates independently and reaffirming the government’s dedication to protecting communal harmony.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, an outspoken advocate for Hindu rights in Bangladesh, was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He had been accused of disrespecting the national flag during a rally in Chittagong in October.
Protests intensified after his arrest. Around 2,000 of his followers reportedly surrounded a police vehicle transporting him to jail, prompting the police to use tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd.
The denial of bail triggered demonstrations in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rangpur. Armed police were deployed to control the situation, further escalating tensions.
Intelligence sources in India reported the situation to New Delhi, highlighting the growing unrest surrounding the case.
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