Growing atrocities against religious minority Hindus in Bangladesh

Incidents of persecution against religious minorities, particularly Hindus, are escalating in Bangladesh. Recently, Raman Roy, the lawyer representing Chinmaya Krishna Das, a jailed Hindu religious leader and prominent figure in ISKCON, was brutally attacked. He sustained severe injuries and was admitted to the ICU. Radha Raman Das, spokesperson for ISKCON Kolkata, shared details of the incident on the social media platform ‘X’. He alleged that Islamic extremists vandalized Raman Roy’s house and brutally attacked him. Radha Raman Das stated that Raman Roy’s only crime was defending Chinmaya Krishna Das in court.

Chinmaya Krishna Das recently organized a rally against the persecution of the Hindu community in Brahmachari Rangpur. As a result, he was arrested on charges of sedition, and a Dhaka court denied his bail plea on November 26. The case was set for a rehearing on Tuesday. On October 25, a massive rally was organized in Chattogram where the Sanatan Jagaran Manch raised their voices with 8-point demands. Some participants of this rally hoisted a saffron flag on the independence pillar, inscribed with “Ami Sanatani”.

Anger is brewing within the Hindu community across the globe, including Bangladesh and India, against the attacks on Chinmaya Krishna Das and other Hindu leaders. On October 31, Firoj Khan, a BNP party leader in Chattogram, filed a sedition case against Chinmaya Krishna Das and 19 others, accusing them of insulting the national flag. In protest of this situation, demonstrations were held in New Delhi on Monday, where protesters demanded concrete action from the UN and the Indian government on this issue. Additionally, ISKCON communities around the world organized kirtans against Chinmaya Krishna Das’s arrest. Thus, continuous efforts are underway to raise awareness about the safety and rights of minority Hindus in Bangladesh.