Chinmoy Krishna Das Explained

ChinmoyKrishna Das
Native Name:চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস
Native Name Lang:bnf
Honorific Suffix:Brahmachari
Birth Name:Chandan Kumar Dhar[1] [2]
Occupation:Hindu monk
Known:Spokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha
Organization:Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (expelled)
Criminal Charge:Sedition
Capture Status:In prison

Chinmoy Krishna Das (bn|চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস) is a Bangladeshi Hindu monk and community leader who is the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha. On 25 November 2024, he was arrested 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 organisation following accusations of child abuse and other disciplinary issues.[10] [11]

Life and occupation

Chinmoy Krishna Das is a Hindu monk, who heads the Pundarik Dham, a Vaishnavite religious centre in Hathazari, Chittagong District. The Dham is also an important part of ISKCON in Bangladesh. Das was a member of ISKCON till July 2024, when he was expelled on the grounds of organisational discipline.

Das had regularly advocated for the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh, and garnered increasing attention after the fall of Sheikh Hasina administration on 5 August 2024. He served as the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, which campaigned for the rights of Hindus and other religious minorities.[12]

On 25 October, the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha held a massive rally at Lal Dighi, Chittagong and issued eight demands.[13] [14] These include the establishment of special tribunals for speedy trials of minority persecution, the enactment of a minority protection law, the creation of a Ministry of Minority Affairs, laws to recover temple properties etc.

Around this time, Sanatan Jagaran Mancha formed a coalition with Bangladesh Sommilito Shankhalogu Jot, to form Bangladesh Sommilito Sanatan Jagaran Jot. Das also served as the spokesperson for the united organisation.

Sedition case

During the 25 October rally, it is alleged that some youth raised the ISKCON's saffron flag on the Independence Monument at the New Market intersection in Chittagong. It is further alleged that this flag was over the national flag of Bangladesh and thus amounted to sedition.[15] [16]

A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) named Firoz Khan registered a case of sedition against 19 people, including Das. The others included Ajay Datta, coordinator of Hindu Jagaran Mancha (a separate organisation) and Leela Raj Das, chief priest of ISKCON Chittagong Temple. Firoz Khan was soon expelled from BNP for filing the case without informing the party, as per Dhaka Tribune. The expulsion letter cited involvement in "activities contrary to the party's principles". Hindu Jagaran Mancha leaders staged protest demanding the withdrawal of the case.

On 25 November 2024, Das was arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. He was charged with sedition for disrespecting the national flag.[17] [18] He was presented before the Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on 26 November 2024, where Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam rejected his bail application and ordered detention.[19] His lawyers requested that he be allowed to follow religious practices while in custody, to which the court instructed compliance with prison regulations.[20] [21]

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 lawyer[22] named Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death by some individual.[23] [24] 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. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus denounced the killing and urged for proper inquiry of the incident.[25] [26]

On 3 December, the bail plea hearing was postponed further to 2 January 2025 as no lawyer came on his behalf.[27] No lawyer turned up to the hearing due to fears of threat and pressure from "politically motivated lawyers group".[28] [29]

Reactions

Domestic
International
Individuals

Controversies

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.[49] [50] [51] 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.[52] Further allegations against him include occupying a pond owned by BNP Vice-chairman Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin in Hathazari, Chittagong.

In 2023, Das was also accused of child 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.[53] [54] [55] At a press conference on 28 November 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 organisation and from the position of Pundarik Dham to investigate the matter. However, Das refrained from following the instructions, leading to his permanent expulsion.[56] In July 2024, he was expelled from ISKCON for violating organisational discipline during his tenure as divisional organisational secretary for Chittagong.[57]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ইসকন নেতা কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস? . The Daily Campus . 26 November 2024.
  2. Web site: কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস . The Bengali Times . 26 November 2024.
  3. Web site: Why was Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested in Bangladesh? . The Week . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  4. Web site: Nath . Sanstuti . Supporters Of Arrested Hindu Priest Thrashed Outside Bangladesh Court . www.ndtv.com . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  5. Web site: ISKCON leader Chinmoy Das held in Bangladesh for sedition . Hindustan Times . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  6. Web site: Hindu monk sent to jail in Bangladesh: Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das? . The Indian Express . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  7. Web site: Several injured after protests break out in Bangladesh over arrest of Hindu monk . India Today . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  8. Web site: Bangladesh ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested amid protests against Hindu atrocities . The Economic Times . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  9. Web site: Chinmoy Krishna Das sent to jail . Dhaka Tribune . 26 November 2024 . 26 November 2024.
  10. News: Iskcon Bangladesh banned Chinmoy Das in 2023, report cites old letter . 2 December 2024 . Firstpost . 29 November 2024 . en-us.
  11. Web site: Shruthi Darbhamulla . The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh . The Hindu . 28 November 2024 .
  12. https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/bangladesh-sanatan-jagaran-manch-who-is-chinmoy-krishna-das-9691169/ Hindu monk sent to jail in Bangladesh: Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das?
  13. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/hindus-in-bangladesh-hold-massive-chittagong-rally-demanding-minority-rights-taslima-nasreen-reacts-101729928311811.html Hindus in Bangladesh hold massive Chittagong rally demanding minority rights, Taslima Nasreen reacts
  14. Sanatan Jagaran Mancha calls for implementation of 8-point demand from Ctg rally, United News of Bangladesh, 25 October 2024.
  15. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/363837/bnp-leader-expelled-for-fling-case-against-iskcon BNP leader expelled for filing case against ISKCON leader without party consent
  16. Keshav Padmanabhan, Ex-ISKCON leader Chinmoy Das’s arrest: India slams ‘attacks on Hindus by extremist elements’ in Bangladesh, ThePrint, 26 November 2024.
  17. Web site: bn . Two arrested for hoisting a saffron flag over the national flag . 2024-11-27 . Dhaka Post . 30 October 2024.
  18. Web site: চিন্ময় দাশকে গ্রেপ্তারে 'গভীর উদ্বেগ' ভারতের . 2024-11-26 . bdnews24.com.
  19. News: Ensure safety of Hindus, India tells Bangladesh after arrest of ISKCON monk . Hindustan Times . 2024-11-27 .
  20. Web site: চিন্ময় দাশের মুক্তির দাবিতে জেলায় জেলায় বিক্ষোভ . 2024-11-26 . bdnews24.com . bn.
  21. Web site: Dhaka not thrilled by India's response to Chinmoy Krishna Das arrest: 'Our internal matter' . The Week.
  22. News: চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর পরিচয় সম্পর্কে যা জানা যাচ্ছে . 27 November 2024 . BBC Bangla.
  23. Web site: প্রতিবেদক . নিজস্ব . 2024-11-26 . চট্টগ্রাম আদালত এলাকায় হামলা, আইনজীবী নিহত . 2024-11-27 . dhakapost.com . bn.
  24. Web site: আইনজীবী আলিফ হত্যা: ভিডিও ফুটেজে শনাক্তের পর আটক ৬ . 2024-11-27 . Independent Television . bn.
  25. Web site: চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর জানাজা সম্পন্ন, চলছে প্রতিবাদ কর্মসূচি . 27 November 2024 . Opera News Official.
  26. Web site: Bangladesh freezes arrested Hindu leader's bank account . Bangladesh freezes arrested Hindu leader's bank account.
  27. News: Chattogram Bureau . Chinmoy Das bail hearing pushed back to Jan 2 . 3 December 2024 . BDNews24 . 3 December 2024.
  28. Web site: TBS Report . Chinmoy's bail hearing rescheduled to 2 January . The Business Standard . 3 December 2024.
  29. News: PTI . No lawyer turns up on Hindu leader Chinmoy Das's behalf, bail hearing set for January 2 . 3 December 2024 . The New Indian Express . 3 December 2024.
  30. Web site: 2024-11-26 . India voices concern over arrest of Hindu monk in Bangladesh, urges govt to ensure minority protection . 2024-11-26 . Financial Express.
  31. Web site: 2024-11-27 . bn . Chinmoy Krishna Das: Bangladesh refutes India's statement . 2024-11-27 . VOA Bangla.
  32. News: 26 Nov 2024 . India's statements misrepresent facts: Dhaka . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127050606/https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/2iixo05h91 . 27 November 2024.
  33. Web site: 2024-11-26 . বিবিসি বাংলা লাইভ- ভারতের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয়ের পাল্টা বিবৃতি বাংলাদেশের, চট্টগ্রামের নিহত আইনজীবী 'প্রিয় দলীয় সহকর্মী' দাবী জামায়াতের আমীরের . 2024-11-27 . BBC News বাংলা . bn.
  34. Web site: Hosan . Ragib . 2024-11-26 . 'চিন্ময় ইস্যুতে ভারতের বিবৃতি বাংলাদেশের অভ‍্যন্তরীণ বিষয়ে হস্তক্ষেপের শামিল' . 2024-11-27 . Jamuna Television .
  35. Web site: 2024-11-26 . India's statement 'contrary to spirit of friendship' . 2024-11-27 . The Daily Star .
  36. Web site: 2024-12-03 . Arrest of a Hindu monk and the minority question: What’s happening in Bangladesh? . 2024-12-04 . The Indian Express . en.
  37. News: PTI . 2024-12-03 . U.K. Parliament raises concerns over attacks on Hindu minority in Bangladesh . 2024-12-04 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  38. Web site: 2024-04-12 . Bangladesh: Attacks on Hindu Community - Hansard - UK Parliament . 2024-12-04 . hansard.parliament.uk . en.
  39. Web site: 2024-12-03 . UK Parliament raises concerns over attacks on Hindu minority in Bangladesh . 2024-12-04 . The Indian Express . en.
  40. News: 2024-11-26 . Sadhguru condemns arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh . 2024-11-27 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  41. News: 2024-11-27 . 'Stop atrocities on Hindus': Pawan Kalyan condemns arrest of Iskcon priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh . 2024-11-27 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  42. Web site: 'Unjustly arrested': Sheikh Hasina asks Yunus govt to free Iskcon's Chinmoy Das 'immediately' . The Times of India . 28 November 2024 . 28 November 2024.
  43. Web site: 2024-11-29 . Freedom of religion must be preserved: UK MP over attacks on Hindus in B'desh . 2024-11-28 . Lokmat Times.
  44. News: Singer Mary Millben Urges World Leaders To Condemn Attacks On Hindus In Bangladesh After ISKCON Priest's Arrest . News18 . 2024-11-28.
  45. Web site: 2024-11-27 . US singer Mary Millben condemns imprisonment of Hindu priest in Bangladesh . News9live . 2024-11-28.
  46. News: 'Violence against Hindus extremely worrying': Priyanka Gandhi calls for intervention by Centre in Bangladesh . 2024-11-30 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  47. Web site: Amaravati . 27 Nov 2024 . Leaders in India condemn Chinmoy Das' arrest in B'desh, demand his release . 30 Nov 2024 . Business Standard.
  48. Web site: 2024-11-28 . Ahead Of Swearing In As MP, Priyanka Targets Govt Over Hindu Seer's Arrest In Bangladesh . 2024-11-30 . ABP News . en.
  49. News: দেশে সম্প্রীতি নষ্ট করার পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে চিন্ময় কাজ করছিল: উপদেষ্টা নাহিদ . The Daily Campus . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127051355/https://thedailycampus.com/national/161205 . 27 November 2024.
  50. Web site: Chinmoy was working to disrupt communal harmony: Advisor Nahid . Daily Inqilab . bn . 2024-11-27 .
  51. Web site: Advisor Nahid Islam's remarks on the unprecedented killing of a lawyer . Bangla Tribune . bn . 2024-11-27.
  52. Web site: ISKCON's Chinmoy finally arrested . Daily Inqilab . bn . 2024-11-27.
  53. News: ইসকনের চিন্ময়কে শিশু বলাৎকারের জন্য নিষিদ্ধ করা হয় . jaijaidin . 28 November 2024.
  54. News: ISKCON imposes Ban on Chinmoy for child sexual abuse . Daily Bangladesh . 28 November 2024 .
  55. Web site: টেলিভিশন . একুশে . চিন্ময় ব্রহ্মচারী শিশু নিপীড়নকারী, এজন্য বিধিনিষেধও দেওয়া হয়েছিল . 2024-11-27 . Ekushey TV .
  56. News: প্রতিবেদক . নিজস্ব . চিন্ময় বহিষ্কৃত, তাঁর বক্তব্য ও কার্যক্রমের দায় ইসকনের নয়, বলেছেন সংগঠনটির নেতারা . 29 November 2024 . Prothomalo . 28 November 2024 . bn.
  57. Web site: Chinmoy expelled from ISKCON in July for disciplinary violations . 2024-11-27 . Dhaka Times.