Border Security Force (BSF) deployed along the border also intercepted 873 Indians entering Bangladesh without any documents from January 1 to August 4. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

There has been no significant increase in the number of undocumented people intercepted whilst entering or leaving India on the border with Bangladesh following major political changes in the neighbouring country, government data of the past six years shows.

Between August 5, when former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India, and November 27, a total of 1,393 Bangladeshis were apprehended along the international border. From January 1 to August 4, the number of such apprehensions stood at 1,144, data accessed by The Hindu shows.

In all, 3,907 undocumented people have been intercepted along the Bangladesh border this year, which includes Indians and people from other nationalities.

In the whole of 2023, as many as 5,095 undocumented people were intercepted, including 3,137 Bangladeshis.

Other than undocumented Bangladeshis, the Border Security Force (BSF) deployed along the border also intercepted 873 Indians entering Bangladesh without any documents from January 1 to August 4.

The number of Indians who wanted to cross over to Bangladesh from August 5 to November 27 stood at 388.

This year, 109 people from other nationalities, including Myanmar, were also stopped at the border.

In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, the number of Bangladeshis intercepted were 2,995, 2,480, 3,295, 2,451, and 3,074, respectively.

After the recent arrest in Dhaka of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, an umbrella group of minority religious communities, in an alleged case of sedition, the BSF has tightened its vigil along the border.

“There could be instances when members of the minority community may want to enter India fearing for their safety, but till now, no such scenario has emerged. There were a few reports from Dinajpur in north Bengal but no mass movement of people is noticed so far. We stop unauthorised entry of all people,” a senior BSF official said.

After Ms. Hasina escaped to India on August 5, violence erupted in the neighbouring country, and in several cases, members of the Hindu community, temples, and shops owned by members of the community, were specifically targeted.

The BSF, deployed along India’s 4,096-km long border with Bangladesh, has been on a heightened vigil since August, with instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) “to not allow anyone into the country without valid documents”.

In certain instances, the BSF pushes back illegal migrants in coordination with the Border Guards Bangladesh, as registering a police case involves a long-drawn legal and deportation process.

After August 5, the BSF has held hundreds of meetings with officials of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to ensure the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh.

Chinmoy Krishna Das. File
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

“Bangladesh’s financial authorities have ordered freezing for 30 days the bank accounts of 17 people associated with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON,) including its former member Chinmoy Krishna Das,” according to media reports on Friday (November 29, 2024.)

The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh | Explained

Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent these directives to various banks and financial institutions on Thursday (November 28, 2024), suspending all types of transactions in these accounts for a month, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported.

“The BFIU asked the banks and financial institutions to send account-related information, including updated transaction statements of all the accounts of all types of businesses owned by these 17 individuals within the next three working days,” it said.

Mr. Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday (November 25, 2024) in a sedition case. He was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chattogram court on Tuesday (November 26, 2024). A lawyer was killed in a clash between security personnel and supporters of the Hindu leader. Mr. Das was a former spokesperson of ISKCON in Bangladesh.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Speaking out for the first time since the fall of her government on August 5, Awami League Leader and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (November 28, 2024) called for the release of an ISKCON leader arrested by the authorities in Bangladesh ‘without delay’. In a statement issued by the Awami League, Ms. Hasina condemned the murder of an assistant public prosecutor in communal clashes in Chittagong that erupted on Tuesday, and called upon the people of Bangladesh to confront the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in a “united” manner.

“A top leader of Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released without delay. A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, mazars, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalised, looted and burnt. Religious freedom and security of life and property of all communities must be protected,” said Ms. Hasina in the statement.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a leading figure of the Bangladesh Sommilito Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of disrespecting the national flag during a protest rally in Chittagong on October 25. Mr. Das who is a leading figure of ISKCON in Bangladesh had led similar rallies in Dhaka and Rangpur in the northern part of Bangladesh.

His arrest and subsequent denial of bail on Tuesday triggered a clash between supporters of Mr. Das and the police, which led to the murder of an assistant public prosecutor. The police on Wednesday arrested six individuals accusing them to be members of the student wing – Chhatra League – of Ms. Hasina’s party.

The Yunus government earlier complained that Ms. Hasina had been reaching out to her supporters while being based in India and warned her to stay ‘silent’. After a few audio and video conversations surfaced in social media that purportedly showed her in conversation with Awami League leaders inside the country, the authorities in Dhaka reached out to Interpol to seek her extradition to Bangladesh. Earlier, Ms. Hasina’s U.S.-based son Shajeeb Wazed Joy had spoken to the media about the political situation in Dhaka, but this is the first time that Ms. Hasina herself has spoken out regarding the prevailing unrest in Bangladesh.

Ms Hasina also expressed her “strong condemnation” for the killing of the assistant public prosecutor in Chittagong and said, “Those connected with this murder must be apprehended and should be brought to justice quickly.”

“A lawyer was beaten to death when he went to perform his professional duties. Those who carried out this murder are terrorists and they must be brought to justice,” said Ms. Hasina.

Referring to the killing of the lawyer in Chittagong, Ms. Hasina called for justice for the people who suffered because of similar assaults during the past three months in Bangladesh and said, “If the Yunus government which has seized power unconstitutionally, fails to punish these terrorists, it will also face punishment for human rights violations. I appeal to the people of the country to stand united against this kind of terrorism and militancy.”

She called out the Yunus government for the economic hardships that are confronting Bangladesh and said, “The current power-grabbers have failed in all sectors. They failed to control the prices of daily essential goods, failed to provide security for people’s lives. I strongly condemn these direct and indirect assaults on the common people.”

Since the fall of her government on August 5, the interim government under the leadership of Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus has been influenced by the young student advisers and student coordinators many of whom played important roles in carrying out the people’s movement that had dislodged the Hasina government. In the aftermath of the political change, Bangladesh witnessed a large number of mob justice incidents in which often people belonging to the erstwhile ruling party – Awami League – and police personnel were targeted. Ms. Hasina condemned the killings and said, “Numerous activists and leaders of Awami League, students and common people and members of the law enforcement agencies were killed. That apart they are being targeted with legal cases and assaults and arrests. I strongly condemn and protest against these anarchical activities.”

The story so far: The Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday (November 25, 2024) arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Vaishnavite leader and one-time member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, prompting protests demandng his release in Dhaka’s Shahbag neighbourhood and Chittagong, where he is based.

Clashes have since intensified. On November 26, assistant public prosecutor Saiful Islam, the lawyer of Chinmoy Krishna Das, was killed during clashes between the security personnel and followers of the Hindu leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chittagong court, police said. Based on CCTV footage of the violence, authorities have reportedly arrested at least six people belonging to the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League which was banned by the government in October.

The same day, a war of words broke out between India and Bangladesh after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the arrest and denial of bail for Mr. Das as “unfortunate” and expressed “deep concern” over incidents targeting minority communities in Bangladesh. The MEA’s statement called upon the interim government of Bangladesh to “ensure safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.”

Bangladesh responded to MEA’s statement by alleging that it misrepresented facts and was “contrary” to the friendly ties between the two neighbours.

Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das?

Chinmoy Krishna Das, also known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, is a monk leading the Pundarik Dham in Chittagong/Chattogram, a key centre for Vaishnavites in Bangladesh. He is also the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, a Sanatani organisation. Mr. Das was a member of ISKCON till recently, when he was expelled.

Mr. Das, who has a considerable following in Bangladesh, has regularly advocated for the rights of religious minorities, and has garnered particular attention after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024. Since then, Mr. Das has engaged in dialogue with various political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), urging communal harmony. In a press conference held earlier this month, Mr. Das alleged that the interim government under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Mohammad Yunus had failed to stop at least 3,000 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Mr. Das has advocated for the implementation of an eight-point list of demands for Hindus in Bangladesh. These include the stablishment of a special tribunal for swift trials in cases of minority persecution, enactment of a minority protection law, the creation of a Ministry for Minority Affairs, laws to recover and protect temple properties and enforcement of the Vested Property Act, prayer rooms in educational institutions, modernization of Sanskrit and Pali Education Boards and a five-day public holiday for Durga Puja, an important festival for Bengali Hindus.

Pundarik Dham is also an important part of ISKCON in Bangladesh, where the society has a significant presence. While its headquarters are located in Gandaria, Dhaka, it has temples across the country— in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet. Every year, it organises celebrations for festivals important in the Vaishnavite tradition, such as Janmashtami and the Kheturi festival.

ISKCON has historically been the subject to several controversies, including charges of misogyny, sexual abuse and harrasment, racketeering, and in one instance- a murder plot. It has faced criticism for more minor infractions too. Recently, Amogh Lila Das, an ISKCON leader in India came under fire for his comments against Swami Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Paramahamsa.

The Bangladesh arrest is a rare instance, however, where anyone associated with the organisation has been arrested on charges of sedition.

Why was Mr. Das arrested?

According to the Dhaka Police, Mr. Das had been arrested after Firoz Khan, a former BNP leader from Chittagong, filed a complaint against him, alleging that he and a few others had insulted Bangladesh’s national flag during a October 25 rally by the Hindu community in Chittagong. Mr. Khan was later expelled from the BNP, reportedly for alleged anti-party activities.

Along with Mr. Das, 18 others are mentioned in the complaint. Two others had been arrested earlier, while Mr. Das was arrested on Monday afternoon as he arrived at Dhaka’s Shah Jalal International Airport, on his way to Chittagong, as per reports from The Daily Star. “From his personal assistant, I found out that some plainclothes men, introducing themselves as members of the detective branch, picked him up from the entrance of the airport,” the report noted.

Following his arrest, protests erupted in another cities in Bangladesh as well, including Chittagong.

Meanwhile, the High Court in Bangladesh admitted a petition calling for a ban on ISKCON in the country. Student leaders in Bangladesh, who form an important block of support for the interim government, also called for an immediate ban. “ISKCON is acting as an agent of the Awami League, attempting to destabilise the country,” student coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said.

Response from ISKCON and other organisations

Mr. Das was recently expelled from ISKCON Bangladesh. Post his arrest, the society released a statement in support of Mr. Das and urged the government to promote peace between the communities, saying that as a “leading Sanatani organisation within the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition” the society was dedicated to “safeguarding the religious freedoms and rights of minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others.”

“We express our serious concern and strongly denounce the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot. We also condemn the subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various regions of Bangladesh. We urge the government authorities to promote peaceful coexistence for the Sanatani community”, the statement read.

It further noted: “As a representative of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot and a Bangladeshi citizen, Chinmoy Krishna Das has been a vocal advocate for the protection of minority groups in the nation. It is essential to uphold his right to free speech and to support his efforts to encourage others to defend this right. Ensuring justice and fair treatment for him is crucial.”

It enumerated three demands to the government and relevant authorities, which include holding those responsible for the attacks on the Sanatani community accountable, protecting the civil rights of Chinmoy Krishna Das and other Sanatanis and implementing effective measures to maintain harmony among all communities. “Chinmoy Krishna Das and the Sanatani community deserve justice as citizens of this country, and we stress that any form of discrimination against them must not be tolerated”, it stressed, noting that it has “consistently urged the interim government and other leaders to ensure constitutional protections for minorities and to facilitate their full and unrestricted participation in society.”

Meanwhile, ISKCON Kolkata on November 27 said that it has spoken to the Centre about repeated targetting of their monks and other Hindu Vaishnavites in Bangladesh. ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharaman Das called the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das the latest example of the continuing attacks on ISKCON members as well as other minority communities in Bangladesh.

“The arrest and mounting threats by Islamists against ISKCON and other Hindu religious orders like Ramakrishna Mission had been going on for the past three months and Das’s arrest was the last instance as of now. The situation is alarming and we have urged the Ministry of External Affairs and the Union Home Ministry to take appropriate steps to save and protect the lives and properties of people under such attacks,” he said.

Politicians in India have also urged the government to ensure the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neigbouring country. Newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi called on the Government of India to “intervene” and ensure safety and security for the minority community in Bangladesh.

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, expressed concern as well. But she stressed that she preferred to not comment on the matter as it pertained to another nation, and said that her government would abide by the Centre’s decision in the matter. She has reportedly spoken to ISKCON representatives about the issue, but did not share any further information.

What are the claims surrounding anti-Hindu protests in Bangladesh?

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh and her flight from the country on August 5, 2024, there were multiple instances of supporters of her party, Awami League. being targeted by protestors. Many Hindus in Bangladesh have reportedly supported the Awami League as well. While there is no clarity on whether the protests have been expressly anti-Hindu, Hindus in Bangladesh have held rallies to demand protection. For example, about 30,000 Hindus rallied on November 1, 2024 in Chittagong to demand that the interim government protect them from attacks and harassment and drop sedition cases against Hindu community leaders. Similar protests were reported in other regions of the nation.

Rallies have also been held by Hindu outfits in India to protest alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh . On August 16, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit took part in a march protesting the issue organised under the banner of Nari Shakti forum, which is allied with RSS.

Meanwhile, Prof. Yunus, the leader of the interim government, has said that the issue of attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh was “exaggerated,” noting that the attacks on minorites in Bangladesh was more a political issue than a communal one.

Hindus are a minority in Bangladesh, comprising 8% of the total population. 91% of the country’s population are Muslims..

Chinmoy Krishna Das
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

ISKCON Bangladesh has issued a statement denouncing the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and called upon the government authorities to promote peaceful coexistence.

ISKCON Bangladesh also issued a list of demands to the government for subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various regions of Bangladesh.

ISKCON Bangladesh made note of the above points and more matters in a statement issued, regarding the current situation in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

“We express our serious concern and strongly denounce the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot. We also condemn the subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various regions of Bangladesh. We urge the government authorities, to promote peaceful coexistence for the Sanatani community”, the statement said.

“As a representative of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot and a Bangladeshi citizen, Chinmoy Krishna Das has been a vocal advocate for the protection of minority groups in the nation. It is essential to uphold his right to free speech and to support his efforts to encourage others to defend this right. Ensuring justice and fair treatment for him is crucial”, the statement observed.

It also said, “Chinmoy Krishna Das and the Sanatani community deserve justice as citizens of this country, and we stress that any form of discrimination against them must not be tolerated”.

ISKCON Bangladesh listed three demands to “the Government and Relevant Authorities”. These include identifying and holding accountable those responsible for the attacks on the Sanatani community, protecting the civil rights of Chinmoy Krishna Das and other Sanatanis and implementing immediate and effective measures to maintain peace and harmony among all communities in the country.

“As a leading Sanatani organisation within the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh is dedicated to safeguarding the religious freedoms and rights of minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others”, the statement read.

“We have consistently urged the interim government and other leaders to ensure constitutional protections for minorities and to facilitate their full and unrestricted participation in society. We call on the government and administration to take prompt and effective actions in consultation with leaders of the Sanatani community to address these concerns”, it added.

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari (C) with BJP MLAs during a protest against the arrest of Hindu community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh, in Kolkata on Tuesday (November 26, 2024).
| Photo Credit: PTI

Demanding the release of the Hindu monk arrested in Bangladesh, Chinmoy Krishna Das, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) held protests outside the State Assembly and announced that party MLAs would lay siege outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata on Wednesday (November 27, 2024).

The Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, and other BJP MLAs, held posters demanding the release of the arrested Hindu leader and shouted slogans outside the premises of the State Assembly.

“I have sought time from the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata at 3 p.m. on Wednesday (November 27, 2024). All BJP MLAs will go there. Whether we get any response from them or not, we will stage a march to the Deputy High Commission and gherao it,” Mr. Adhikari said.

The BJP leader added that he would join another march organised by the Hindu Jagaran Manch from Sealdah to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Thursday (November 28, 2024).

Mr. Adhikari said that if Mr. Das was not released by Sunday (November 24, 2024), then the BJP MLA from Bongaon would stage a demonstration at the International Check Post at Petrapole along the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas.

The State BJP unit issued a press statement on Tuesday (November 26, 2024), urging the Bangladesh government to immediately release Mr. Das. “All the false cases against him should be withdrawn, protection should be given to Hindu and Hindu temples in Bangladesh and to ensure that minorities do not flee the country,” the press statement signed by West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which is headquartered at Mayapur in West Bengal, issued a press statement urging “the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh” on the issue.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement expressed “deep concern” over the arrest and denial of bail to Mr. Das.

Mr. Das, who leads the Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, and is associated with ISKCON in Bangladesh, was arrested in Dhaka on Monday (November 25, 2024). He is also the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote.

Protests have erupted in the neighbouring country after the arrest of the prominent Hindu monk who is believed to have a large following in Bangladesh.