Bangladesh authorities have frozen the bank accounts of 17 individuals connected to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), including former member Chinmoy Krishna Das, following his recent arrest on sedition charges. According to a report by Prothom Alo on Friday, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), part of the central Bangladesh Bank, issued the order on Thursday, suspending all transactions for a period of 30 days.
This move comes after a Dhaka high court rejected a petition to ban ISKCON in the wake of a violent clash between Hindu community supporters and security forces that resulted in the death of a lawyer. The BFIU has instructed financial institutions to provide updated transaction statements for these accounts, including business-related ones, within three working days.
Chinmoy Das’s Arrest
Chinmoy Krishna Das, who had served as a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested on Monday at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He faces sedition charges, along with 18 others, following an incident on October 30 during a Hindu community rally in Chattogram’s New Market area, where they were accused of disrespecting the national flag.
Das was denied bail by a Chattogram court and sent to jail, which sparked protests from his supporters. The arrest has drawn international attention, with India expressing concern over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Indian officials, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, have urged Bangladesh to ensure the safety and rights of its Hindu community, which has faced increasing violence and attacks on temples in recent years.
Controversy Surrounding the Lawyer’s Death
The clash that led to the lawyer’s death occurred during protests related to Das’s arrest. ISKCON Bangladesh has denied any connection to the lawyer’s death, calling the allegations part of a targeted smear campaign. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has called for Das’s release, condemning the violence and the lawyer’s killing.
A two-member High Court bench recently rejected a petition to ban ISKCON’s activities in Bangladesh, stating that the government should be trusted to maintain law and order. The court emphasized that the situation did not require further intervention.
Concerns Over Minority Safety
Bangladesh’s Hindu population, once comprising about 22% of the country’s population during the 1971 Liberation War, now makes up around 8%. Members of the Hindu community continue to report rising incidents of violence and discrimination. As tensions escalate, both local and international voices are calling for greater protection and safeguarding of minority rights in Bangladesh
