Hasina slams Hindu monk's arrest, HC refuses to ban ISKCON

Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday condemned the murder of a lawyer in Chittagong and the arrest of Bangladeshi Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, demanding his release.Calling for justice, she said, “I am expressing strong protest against this murder. Those involved in this murder will have to be found and punished quickly.” "A top leader of Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately. A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and homes of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalized and looted and set on fire," she said. "Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities should be ensured," she added.
She warned the government of consequences if justice is not served. “If the government, which has unconstitutionally seized power, fails to punish these terrorists, then it will also have to face punishment for violating human rights,” she said.Sheikh Hasina urged citizens to unite against violence and insecurity. She also condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and demanded his release. “A top leader of the Hindu community has been wrongfully arrested,” she said. “He will have to be released immediately.
In a related development, the High Court on Thursday refused to pass a suo motu order on banning ISKCON's activities in Bangladesh after being informed that the authorities concerned have taken necessary measures in this regard. The attorney general's office placed the information before the HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury.The bench hoped that the government must remain cautious about protecting the law and order situation and lives and properties of the people of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, leaders of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh has refuted allegations linking the organisation to the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram.At a press conference at ISKCON Bangladesh's headquarters, General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari on Thursday said, "A series of false, fabricated, and malicious campaigns have been targeting ISKCON Bangladesh, particularly in connection with recent events. These efforts are aimed at discrediting our organisation and creating societal unrest." He also highlighted that certain individuals, including Chinmoy Krishna Das (whose arrest triggered the recent unrest), Lilraj Gaur Das and Swatantra Gauranga Das, had been previously removed from the organisation for violating its rules.He emphasised that their actions were personal and not connected to ISKCON.