In a momentous relief for the Hindu community, the Bangladesh High Court on Thursday declined to issue a suo motu (voluntary) order banning the activities of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in the country. After Thursday’s proceedings started, the attorney general’s office placed the information before the high court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury. The bench hoped that the government must remain cautious about protecting the law and order situation and lives and properties of the people of Bangladesh.
They came up with the remark after Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque and Deputy Attorney General Asad Uddin informed the high court bench that three separate cases have been filed in connection with the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif and ISKCON’s activities, and 33 accused have been arrested in these cases.
The development comes a day after Supreme Court lawyer Monir Uddin on Wednesday submitted reports from various newspapers to the High Court, urging it to issue an order directing the government to ban ISKCON’s operations. He also sought the imposition of Section 144 in Chattogram, Rangpur, and Dinajpur, citing concerns over recent activities linked to the group. In response, the court instructed the Attorney General to provide details of the steps taken by the government concerning ISKCON’s activities. It further directed the government to submit its position on ISKCON and provide an update on the country’s law and order situation by Thursday morning.
The Attorney General of Bangladesh, Md Asaduzzaman, referred to ISKCON as a “religious fundamentalist organisation” during the court proceedings. Addressing queries about the group’s establishment in the country, he clarified, “It is not a political party. It is a religious fundamentalist organisation. The government is already scrutinising them.”
The scrutiny of ISKCON comes amid heightened tensions following the arrest of Hindu priest and former ISKCON Bangladesh leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. on Tuesday (26 November) at around 11am, Chinmoy Krishna was produced before the court of Chattogram 6th Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam, his lawyers applied for bail. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail and ordered him to be sent to jail. A large group of people believed to be supporters of Chinmoy Krishna blocked the prison van carrying him to jail for about two and a half hours. The situation escalated further with the death of Assistant Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam during clashes between security personnel and Chinmoy’s followers after bail was denied to the Hindu priest. These events prompted a lawyer to file a petition on Wednesday seeking an outright ban on ISKCON’s operations in Bangladesh.
While refusing to impose an immediate ban, the high court urged the government to take proactive measures to prevent any deterioration of the law and order situation. It reiterated the need for vigilance in protecting the safety and rights of all communities in the country.
