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Chinmoy Krishna Das

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Chinmoy Krishna Das
Brahmachari
চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস
Born
Chandan Kumar Dhar[1][2]
OccupationHindu monk
OrganizationBangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha
Known forSpokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Mancha
Criminal chargeSedition
Capture status
In prison

Chinmoy Krishna Das (Bengali: চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস) is a Bangladeshi Hindu monk who is the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha. He was arrested on a complaint by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (later ousted) politician Firoze Khan on sedition charges, leading to violent protests by his followers and diplomatic reactions from India.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] A former member of ISKCON Bangladesh, he was expelled from the organization in July 2024, following accusations of Child sexual abuse and other disciplinary issues.[10][11]

Early life and occupation

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Previously, he served as the divisional organising secretary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Chittagong.[12] Currently, he is the curator of Pundarik Dham Ashram in Hathazari, Chittagong.[2]

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See also: Murder of Saiful Islam Alif

On 25 November 2024, Das was arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. He was charged with sedition following allegations of disrespecting the national flag of Bangladesh related to a rally at a public event in Chittagong's New Market area where saffron flags were allegedly raised over or replaced the national flag.[13][14] He was presented before the Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on 26 November 2024, where Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam ordered his detention after rejecting his bail application.[15] His lawyers requested that he be allowed to follow religious practices while in custody, to which the court instructed compliance with prison regulations.[16][17]

Following his bail being rejected, his followers protested in front of the court building, which became violent after clashing with the law enforcing forces. During the violence, a pro-BNP lawyer[18] named Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death by some individual.[19][20] His death resulted nationwide counter protests by the lawyers and other organisations demainding a ban on ISKCON. Lawyers at Chittagong court boycotted the judicial proceedings on the next day.[21] Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus denounced the killing and urged for proper inquiry of the incident.[21]

Reactions

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Domestic
  • In a news conference on 28 November, ISKCON Bangladesh denied any kind of involvement with Das or the murder of lawyer Alif and refused to take any kind of responsibility for allegations against Das.[22][23]
International
  • The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over his arrest and urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety and protection of minority communities, emphasizing their right to peaceful assembly.[24][14] On Tuesday, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a counter-statement regarding India's concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. The statement expressed regret over the misrepresentation of the issue as an internal matter of Bangladesh and emphasized that such comments undermine the spirit of friendship between the two nations. It highlighted that the judiciary of Bangladesh is independent, and the case involving Das is currently under judicial consideration, with no interference from the government. The statement reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens, including religious minorities, and ensuring their freedom of expression and worship.[25][26][27][28][29]
Individuals
  • Founder of Isha Foundation Sadhguru condemned the arrest of Das expressing concern over the Bangladesh's drift from democratic to autocratic tendencies. He emphasized the importance of protecting religious freedom and upholding democratic values, warning against persecution based on religion or demographics.[30]
  • Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan condemned the arrest urging unity against atrocities on Hindus and calling on the Bangladeshi government to take immediate action.[31]
  • Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi voiced concern for Das and demand Bangladeshi government released him.[32]
  • Exiled Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the arrest and said he was "unjustly arrested and must be released immediately".[33]
  • British Conservative MP Bob Blackman condemned the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, specifically highlighting the imprisonment of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. He stated, "Today, I condemned the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das."[34]
  • Actress and singer Mary Millben condemned the imprisonment of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das and the ongoing attacks against Hindus. She urged world leaders to address the issue, highlighting the need for global attention on religious persecution.[35][36][37]

Controversies

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Das faced accusations of orchestrating programmes aimed at creating communal unrest. Nahid Islam, an adviser of the interim government, accused him in a Facebook post of making false and provocative statements during various assemblies, allegedly attempting to incite communal division and disrupt social harmony.[38][39][40] According to Daily Inqilab reports, Das was allegedly linked to the acid attack on army and police personnel in the Chittagong's Hazari Lane incident of November 2024.[41][unreliable source?] Further allegations against him include occupying a pond owned by BNP Vice-chairman Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin in Hathazari, Chittagong.[41][unreliable source?]

In 2023, Das was also accused of child sexual abuse for which ISKCON International Child Protection Office, located in the United Kingdom, directed him to stay way from anyone under the age of 18. He was also temporarily suspended from the organisation and was banned from conducting religious rites.[10][42][41][43] At a press conference in 2024, Hrishikesh Gourango Das, a member of the Child Protection Team of ISKCON Bangladesh, said that several children accused Chinmoy Das of abuse following which he was suspended for three months from the organization and from the position of Pundorik Dham to investigate the matter. However, Das refrained from following the instructions, leading to his permanent expulsion from the organization.[11] In July 2024, he was expelled from ISKCON for violating organisational discipline during his tenure as divisional organisational secretary for Chittagong.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ইসকন নেতা কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস?". The Daily Campus. 26 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস". The Bengali Times. 26 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Why was Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested in Bangladesh?". The Week. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  4. ^ Nath, Sanstuti (26 November 2024). "Supporters Of Arrested Hindu Priest Thrashed Outside Bangladesh Court". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  5. ^ "ISKCON leader Chinmoy Das held in Bangladesh for sedition". Hindustan Times. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Hindu monk sent to jail in Bangladesh: Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das?". The Indian Express. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Several injured after protests break out in Bangladesh over arrest of Hindu monk". India Today. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Bangladesh ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested amid protests against Hindu atrocities". The Economic Times. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Chinmoy Krishna Das sent to jail". Dhaka Tribune. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b "ইসকনের চিন্ময়কে শিশু বলাৎকারের জন্য নিষিদ্ধ করা হয়". jaijaidin. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (28 November 2024). "চিন্ময় বহিষ্কৃত, তাঁর বক্তব্য ও কার্যক্রমের দায় ইসকনের নয়, বলেছেন সংগঠনটির নেতারা". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das and why has he been arrested in Bangladesh?". The Economic Times. 2024-11-26. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  13. ^ "Two arrested for hoisting a saffron flag over the national flag". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  14. ^ a b "চিন্ময় দাশকে গ্রেপ্তারে 'গভীর উদ্বেগ' ভারতের". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  15. ^ "Ensure safety of Hindus, India tells Bangladesh after arrest of ISKCON monk". Hindustan Times. 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  16. ^ "চিন্ময় দাশের মুক্তির দাবিতে জেলায় জেলায় বিক্ষোভ". bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  17. ^ "Dhaka not thrilled by India's response to Chinmoy Krishna Das arrest: 'Our internal matter'". The Week.
  18. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর পরিচয় সম্পর্কে যা জানা যাচ্ছে". BBC Bangla. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  19. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (2024-11-26). "চট্টগ্রাম আদালত এলাকায় হামলা, আইনজীবী নিহত". dhakapost.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  20. ^ "আইনজীবী আলিফ হত্যা: ভিডিও ফুটেজে শনাক্তের পর আটক ৬". Independent Television (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  21. ^ a b "চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর জানাজা সম্পন্ন, চলছে প্রতিবাদ কর্মসূচি". Opera News Official. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  22. ^ "চিন্ময়ের কার্যক্রমে ইসকন দায়ী নয়". Dhaka Post. 28 November 2024.
  23. ^ https://stories.apexnews-sea.com/news/detail/14ad9fba297a798b7bb007a55da8a1dd?country=bd&language=bn&entry_id=2ae65980241128bn_in&request_id=PUSH_bb610f58-f91e-434f-a8f0-cd6082daf198&from=opera_push
  24. ^ "India voices concern over arrest of Hindu monk in Bangladesh, urges govt to ensure minority protection". Financial Express. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  25. ^ "Chinmoy Krishna Das: Bangladesh refutes India's statement". VOA Bangla (in Bengali). 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  26. ^ "India's statements misrepresent facts: Dhaka". 26 Nov 2024. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024.
  27. ^ "বিবিসি বাংলা লাইভ- ভারতের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয়ের পাল্টা বিবৃতি বাংলাদেশের, চট্টগ্রামের নিহত আইনজীবী 'প্রিয় দলীয় সহকর্মী' দাবী জামায়াতের আমীরের". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  28. ^ Hosan, Ragib; Television, Jamuna (2024-11-26). "'চিন্ময় ইস্যুতে ভারতের বিবৃতি বাংলাদেশের অভ‍্যন্তরীণ বিষয়ে হস্তক্ষেপের শামিল'". Jamuna Television. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  29. ^ Report, Star Digital (2024-11-26). "India's statement 'contrary to spirit of friendship'". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  30. ^ "Sadhguru condemns arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh". The Times of India. 2024-11-26. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  31. ^ "'Stop atrocities on Hindus': Pawan Kalyan condemns arrest of Iskcon priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh". The Times of India. 2024-11-27. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  32. ^ "Bangladesh crisis: Union minister Giriraj Singh wants UN to step in, Priyanka Gandhi asks PM Modi to intervene". Telegraph India.
  33. ^ "'Unjustly arrested': Sheikh Hasina asks Yunus govt to free Iskcon's Chinmoy Das 'immediately'". The Times of India. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Freedom of religion must be preserved: UK MP over attacks on Hindus in B'desh". Lokmat Times. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  35. ^ "Singer Mary Millben Urges World Leaders To Condemn Attacks On Hindus In Bangladesh After ISKCON Priest's Arrest". News18. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  36. ^ "US singer Mary Millben condemns imprisonment of Hindu priest in Bangladesh". News9live. 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  37. ^ "Republic World". Republic World. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  38. ^ "দেশে সম্প্রীতি নষ্ট করার পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে চিন্ময় কাজ করছিল: উপদেষ্টা নাহিদ". 26 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Chinmoy was working to disrupt communal harmony: Advisor Nahid". Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  40. ^ "Advisor Nahid Islam's remarks on the unprecedented killing of a lawyer". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  41. ^ a b c "ISKCON's Chinmoy finally arrested". Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  42. ^ "ISKCON imposes Ban on Chinmoy for child sexual abuse". Daily Bangladesh. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  43. ^ টেলিভিশন, Ekushey TV | একুশে. "চিন্ময় ব্রহ্মচারী শিশু নিপীড়নকারী, এজন্য বিধিনিষেধও দেওয়া হয়েছিল". Ekushey TV. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  44. ^ "Chinmoy expelled from ISKCON in July for disciplinary violations". Dhaka Times. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
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