What did the Center say in Parliament regarding attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh?

The primary responsibility for protecting the life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, lies with the Government of Bangladesh, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told Parliament.

NEW DELHI: As violence and vandalism against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh escalated, questions were raised in India's Parliament over concerns over human rights violations.

Some of the questions included whether incidents of desecration and damage to Hindu temples and deities have increased in Bangladesh and whether the Indian government has "raised the issue" with the Bangladeshi interim government. The Bangladesh government's response and efforts made by Dhaka to stop such incidents were sought.

Acknowledging the attacks on Bangladesh's Hindu minority, the External Affairs Minister told the members of Parliament that "several incidents of desecration and damage to Hindu temples and deities have been reported in Bangladesh in the last few months. The Indian government has expressed such concerns. Following the incidents including the attack on a puja pavilion in Dhaka's Tanti Bazaar and the theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple during Durga Puja 2024, the government has also asked the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship.

In response to questions from the members of Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh told the members of Parliament that "the primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, lies with the Government of Bangladesh. "

Theft at Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple

In early October, the crown of Goddess Kali was stolen from the Jeshoreshwari Temple in Shyamnagar, Satkhira. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gifted the crown during his visit to the temple in March 2021.

The theft took place in broad daylight - between 2.00 pm and 2.30 pm - after the temple priest Dilip Mukherjee had left after the day's puja. Cleaning staff later noticed that the crown was missing from the deity's head.

The stolen crown, plated with silver and gold, holds significant cultural and religious significance. According to Hindu scriptures, the Jeshoreshwari Temple is one of the holiest temples in India (and is now one of the 51 Shaktipeeths (in neighbouring countries). The name "Jashoreshwari" means "Goddess of Jessore."

Recent incidents of temple attacks in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Hindu temples are being targeted by mobs in Chattogram. The arrest of former ISKCON leader Chinmay Krishna Das has sparked protests across Bangladesh, with the community calling for the monk’s release and justice for Hindus facing persecution following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At least three temples — Loknath Temple in Firangi Bazaar, Mansa Mata Temple and Kali Mata Temple in Hazari Lane — have been allegedly targeted in Chattogram.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spokesperson Radharma Das shared a video of the alleged mob attack on a Hindu temple on her X account and wrote, “#24x7 Attacks on Hindus and Hindu religious sites in Bangladesh. When will all this stop?”

ISKCON Bangladesh also issued a statement condemning the arrest of the Hindu monk and the subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various parts of Bangladesh. "Chinmaya Krishna Das and the Sanatani community deserve justice as citizens of this country, and we strongly urge that they should not be discriminated against in any way," he wrote.

Hindu priest arrested in Bangladesh

A Hindu priest and religious minority leader in Bangladesh, Chinmaya Krishna Das Brahmachari, was arrested in Dhaka earlier this week, amid tensions over minority rights in the country, which has seen widespread political violence since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The arrest followed protests by the Hindu community in Rangpur, a city about 300 km north of Dhaka, demanding stronger legal protections and a ministry dedicated to minority affairs.

Chandan Kumar Dhar Prakash alias Chinmaya Krishna Das Brahmachari is a spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagran Manch. He was the former head of an ISKCON-run religious place called Pundarik Dham in Chittagong.

The monk was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday and later arrested on charges of drug abuse.

“A sedition case has been registered against Chimnoy for allegedly hoisting the flag on top of the Bangladesh national flag stand. But the person who filed the case is no longer associated with the case. He has now agreed to continue the case,” the minority leader said.

Citing sources in ISKCON Chittagong, the Dhaka Tribune reported that Chinmay Krishna hails from Satkania upazila of Bandar city. He is said to have earned the nickname ‘Shishu Bokta’ due to his popularity as a religious preacher since childhood. He served as the Chittagong Divisional Secretary of ISKCON from 2016 to 2022 and has also been the Principal of Pundarik D.

Bangladesh calls ISKCON a “religious extremist” group

Bangladesh has called ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a “religious extremist” group in an affidavit filed in the country’s high court. The interim government also said it was “investigating ISKCON.”

The reference to ISKCON as a “religious extremist” organization was part of Bangladesh’s attorney general’s response to a question about the group’s origins in Bangladesh.

The incident occurred earlier this week in protest against the arrest of Hindu religious leader Chinmay Krishna Das Brahmachari. It came after the Hindu community in Rangpur, a city 300 km north of Dhaka, protested demanding stronger laws and a minority affairs ministry.

New Delhi has strongly objected to the arrest of Chinmay Brahmachari and urged Dhaka to ensure the safety of minority communities, including Hindus. However, Bangladesh's foreign ministry has termed it as India's interference in its internal affairs.

Since Sheikh Hasina was forced to step down as prime minister, the new military-backed interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has faced criticism for failing to control violence against minorities, including vandalism of Hindu businesses and homes.