In Bangladesh, there is a significant outcry over the arrest of the Hindu spiritual leader and chief priest of ISKCON, Chinmoy Prabhu. Devotees of Hinduism are taking to the streets to voice their protests. However, there are reports of Jamaat-e-Islami members attacking these peaceful protestors. Amid this uproar in Bangladesh, let's delve into why ISKCON's most prominent spiritual leader was arrested.
Recently, Bangladesh witnessed considerable upheaval. The persistent demands for regime change in the neighboring country culminated in chaos, forcing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and seek refuge in India. Following Hasina's ouster, an interim government was formed under the stewardship of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Targeted by Extremists
After Yunus assumed power, violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh escalated alarmingly. Hindu homes were set ablaze, and the residents were forcibly evicted and beaten, a situation that continues to this day. The spiritual leader of ISKCON, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, also known as Chinmoy Prabhu, openly condemned these acts of violence. Consequently, he became a target for Bangladesh's extremists.
Disgrace to the National Flag!
The interim Yunus government was looking for an opportunity to target Chinmoy Prabhu who had become the voice for Hindus. This occasion presented itself on October 25th, when a massive sit-in protest was staged by the Hindu group 'Samanata Jagaran Manch' in New Market, Dhaka. During the rally, some young individuals hoisted a saffron flag atop the Bangladeshi flag. The Bangladesh police cited this incident as the reason for Chinmoy Prabhu's arrest, claiming it as an insult to the national flag.
Who is Chinmoy Prabhu?
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is the leading figure of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Manch and the president of ISKCON Chittagong’s Pundarik Dham. Known popularly as Chinmoy Prabhu, he has been a robust voice against the atrocities inflicted on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. ISKCON hosts over 77 temples in Bangladesh, with more than 50,000 individuals associated with the organization. Chinmoy Prabhu is also a member of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and has previously served as a spokesperson for ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).
