ISKCON advises monks to avoid saffron attire in Bangladesh

Kolkata, West Bengal, Iscon Spokesperson Radharaman Das at a meet with The Hindu.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spokesperson in Kolkata advised monks of the order on Tuesday to avoid saffron attire in Bangladesh.

ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharaman Das said that there were reports on social media that a person had been assaulted for his attire. “This is the reason we are advising monks, in the interests of their safety,” Mr. Das said. The ISKCON spokesperson also appealed to the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of lawyers willing to represent Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Mr. Das said that there were reports that no lawyer represented Chinmoy Krishna Das during the hearing today. According to the ISKCON spokesperson, Chinmoy Krishna Das’s lawyer, Ramen Roy, was attacked in Bangladesh. He later posted a video on social media alleging an attack on another lawyer.

Lawyers assaulted

“The day Chinmay Krishna Prabhu was first arrested and produced in court, one of his lawyers, Regan Acharya was attacked brutally after the hearing and his chamber was vandalised. In this video his name in Bengali is visible on the signboard of his chamber. How can any lawyer appear for #ChinmoyKrishnaDas when they are being targeted?” the ISKCON spokesperson said on social media.

Radharaman Das said that four monks of the order, including Chinmoy Krishna Das, have been arrested, and 63 monks were not allowed to enter the country despite having valid documents.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also raised the issue and said lawyers could not represent Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das as they were being targeted in Bangladesh.

The BJP leader also added that both Ramen Roy and Regan Acharya, who were representing ISKCON, were attacked in Bangladesh.

Appeal to rights groups

Mr. Adhikari sought immediate intervention by global human rights organisations to stop alleged atrocities against people from minority communities.

“Both the advocates, who were supposed to appear for the arrested Hindu monk, are now fighting for their lives. This is a complete violation of human rights, and I believe that international human rights organisations must intervene immediately,” he told reporters outside the West Bengal Assembly.

In another development, the Calcutta High Court has granted permission to Hindu groups to hold a gathering at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Kolkata on December 5. Last Thursday, violence erupted in Kolkata after Hindu groups held protests near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission.