New Delhi: Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, issued a statement on Thursday (November 28) condemning the killing of a lawyer and called for the immediate release of a detained Hindu activist.
Bangladeshi police arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on Monday evening on sedition charges, accusing him of inciting a rally that disrespected the national flag. After a court in Chattogram denied him bail on Tuesday, a crowd gathered outside, raising slogans and blocking the movement of a police vehicle.
Clashes erupted between Chinmoy’s supporters and police, during which Saiful Islam, a lawyer and assistant public prosecutor, was fatally attacked with sharp objects.
Thirty-three people have been arrested so far in connection with the murder.
Before news of the lawyer’s death emerged, India issued a statement on Tuesday expressing concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna, a former International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) member and a spokesperson for the Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance, which has held rallies in Chattogram and Rangpur advocating for the rights of minority Hindus.
On Thursday, the Awami League’s account on X posted a statement from Hasina in Bengali, which began with a strong condemnation of Islam’s death.
“The lawyer was carrying out his professional duties, and those who beat him to death in this manner are nothing short of terrorists. Regardless of who they are, they must face punishment,” her statement said.
Hasina has been living in India since August 5 after she escaped the surging crowd of protestors that had been on the streets since July.
আওয়ামী লীগ সভানেত্রী বঙ্গবন্ধুকন্যা শেখ হাসিনার বিবৃতিঃ
Advertisementচট্টগ্রামে একজন আইনজীবীকে হত্যা করা হয়েছে, এই হত্যার তীব্র প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছি। এই হত্যাকাণ্ডের সঙ্গে যারা জড়িত তাদেরকে খুঁজে বের করে দ্রুত শাস্তি দিতে হবে। এই ঘটনার মধ্য দিয়ে চরমভাবে মানবাধিকার লঙ্ঘিত হয়েছে। একজন… pic.twitter.com/b7yjlyj9Et
— Awami League (@albd1971) November 28, 2024
Advertisement
Referring to the interim government as “unconstitutional”, the statement asserted that if the “terrorists” were not held accountable, chief adviser Muhammad Yunus would have to face consequences for violating human rights.
“I urge the people of this nation to unite and stand firmly against such terrorism and extremism. Ensuring the safety and security of the lives and property of ordinary citizens is of utmost importance,” it stated.
The statement continued: “The current power grabbers have consistently demonstrated incompetence in every aspect. They have failed to control the prices of essential commodities and to provide safety to people’s lives. I strongly condemn these direct and indirect acts of oppression against the general public.”
Hasina briefly dwelled on the arrest of Chinmoy Das, saying, “A prominent leader of the Sanatan community has been unjustly arrested and must be released immediately”.
She then expanded on the broader issue of attacks on minorities in the country, stating, “A temple in Chattogram has been burned down. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and the homes of the Ahmadiyya community have been attacked, vandalised, looted and set on fire. The religious freedom and security of life and property for people of all communities must be ensured.”
The statement concluded by addressing the assaults on party leaders. “After murdering countless Awami League leaders, activists, students and law enforcement personnel, the regime continues to harass people through arrests, lawsuits and intimidation. I strongly condemn and protest these anarchist activities.”
Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh’s High Court refused to pass a suo motu order on banning ISKCON’s activities in response to a petition filed by a lawyer a day earlier.
The leaders of the students’ anti-discrimination movement had also demanded a ban on ISKCON’s activities in Bangladesh.
However, media reports stated that the main political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had opposed imposing any ban on the Hindu religious organisation.
ISKCON Bangladesh held a media briefing on Thursday to distance themselves from Chinmoy Krishna, stating that he had been expelled by the organisation for breaching discipline in July.
An ISKCON member told the media that he had initially been removed following complaints involving children.
Later on Thursday night, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for environment, forest and climate change, clarified that the government had not discussed banning ISKCON in Bangladesh.
Responding to a query at a press briefing, she stated, “No discussion was held in the government to ban ISKCON [in Bangladesh]. Many may raise demands. People may take programmes to press home their demands. We are not mixing the offenses of organisations with the offenses of individuals.”
According to Prothom Alo, she also referred to media reports indicating ISKCON’s claim that it had no connection with Chinmoy Krishna.
Meanwhile in India, the Ministry of External Affairs said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha that “several incidents of desecration and damages to Hindu temples and deities in Bangladesh have been reported in the past few months”.
“The government of India has expressed its concerns about such incidents, including the attack on a Puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and the theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024. The government has also called upon the government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship,” it said in a written reply on Thursday.
The MEA added that ensuring the protection of life and liberty for all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, was primarily the responsibility of the Bangladesh government.
