Bangladesh News: At least one person was killed, and several others were injured during clashes between law enforcement and followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), in Bangladesh’s Chattogram on Tuesday. The deceased, Saiful Islam Alif, a 32-year-old trainee lawyer and member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, was declared dead at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) around 4:00 pm. Nurul Islam, in charge of the CMCH Police Camp, confirmed the death, as reported by Bangladesh-based The Daily Star.
The clashes erupted in the Laldighi area under Kotwali police station after a court ordered Chinmoy Das to be sent to jail on charges of disrespecting the national flag. His bail application was rejected earlier that day. The court also instructed jail authorities to provide divisional facilities and allow him to observe his religious practices, according to Dhaka Tribune.
As per The Daily Star, the situation escalated when some of Chinmoy’s followers attempted to block the prison van carrying him. Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of the Chattogram District Bar Association, alleged, “Some Chinmoy supporters dragged Saiful Islam to Rangam Convention Hall around 3:30 pm and hacked him.” Mohammad Didar, a local employee, “Some Chinmoy followers attacked the lawyer on the road next to Rangam Convention Hall. Along with other locals, I helped rescue Saiful and took him to the hospital.”
On the other hand, ISKCON Bangladesh’s Pundarik Dham shared a purported video of the clash on social media claiming, “Sound Grenades and Baton Charge on Sanatanis at Chattogram Court.”
ABP could not independently check the veracity of the video.
Ten others, including journalists, sustained injuries during the clashes, with five seeking treatment at CMCH, The Daily Star reported. Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at CMCH, confirmed that the names of six of the injured individuals — Sribas Das, Sharku Das, Choton, Sujit Ghosh, Utpal, and Enamul Haque — who were receiving treatment, as per Dhaka Tribune.
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Bangladesh: Protest Over Chinmoy Das’s Arrest
The protests began on Monday when Chinmoy Das was detained near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. That evening, his supporters marched at Cheragi intersection in Chattogram, chanting slogans demanding his release, reported Dhaka Tribune.
On Tuesday, Chinmoy addressed his followers from a police van using a hand microphone, urging them to remain calm and avoid destabilising the state. However, tensions escalated, forcing police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel to use sound grenades and batons to disperse the crowd.
Chinmoy Das, formerly the divisional organising secretary of ISKCON Chattogram and currently a spokesperson for Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, has sparked controversy with his arrest and subsequent detention.
