Chittagong-based Islamist outfit Hefazat-e-Islam is demanding a ban on Hindu outfit International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON, escalating tension in the country where attacks on the minority group have increased ever since former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government collapsed on August 5.
Hefazat-e-Islam shouted slogans against the Hindu religious outfit during their rally in the Bangladeshi port city on Friday.
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen shared videos of the rally on her X page where the protesters could be heard shouting slogans against ISKCON.
Hefazat -e -islams Slogan:, take iskcon one by one, hold and slaughter. pic.twitter.com/ipKE0zAw0c
taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) November 9, 2024
Catch the ISKCONs one by one and slaughter, they were heard shouting in the video.
Slamming the rally, Nasreen said: The Chittagong-based group Hefazat-e-Islam has called for a ban on ISKCON. Today, their slogan was: Catch one ISKCON, then slaughter. Hefazat-e-Islam has called for terrorism. They want to kill ISKCON members. Is ISKCON a terrorist organization that it should be banned?
ISKCON exists in many countries around the world, and nowhere does it face such issues, but it does in Bangladesh. Why is that? Because in this country, there is a large number of Islamists and jihadists who cannot tolerate people of other religions, she said.
They use all sorts of tricks and tactics to harm non-Muslims or drive them out of their land. Hefazat-e-Islam is playing the role of the terrorists here, while ISKCON is the persecuted minority, the Bangladeshi writer wrote in her strong-worded post.
The Chittagong-based group Hefazat-e-Islam has called for a ban on ISKCON. Today, their slogan was: Catch one ISKCON, then slaughter. Hefazat-e-Islam has called for terrorism. They want to kill ISKCON members. Is ISKCON a terrorist organization that it should be banned? Have pic.twitter.com/tDNoLczzzE
taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) November 8, 2024
Bangladeshi local media and social media posts claimed Hindu houses, temples and shops were vandalised and targeted by radicals after Hasina escaped in August amid violent protests against her government.
