BJP gherao Bangladesh high commission over arrest of Hindu monk

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gheraoed the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata on Wednesday in protest against the arrest of ISKCON Bangladesh priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. The demonstration was led by West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who was joined by several BJP MLAs. The protesters demanded the immediate release of the Hindu monk, who was detained by Dhaka police on charges of sedition.

Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on Monday at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and later presented before the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court. His bail plea was denied, and he was placed in judicial custody. The sedition charge relates to an incident in which he allegedly raised a flag near a stand displaying Bangladesh’s national emblem. While the complainant has reportedly expressed unwillingness to pursue the case, the legal proceedings have not been withdrawn.

Following the gherao, Suvendu Adhikari announced plans for further demonstrations. On Thursday, a march will be held from Sealdah station to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, organized by the Hindu Jagran Manch. Additionally, a blockade of the India-Bangladesh border near Petrapole is planned for Monday, where Adhikari stated that all cross-border trade would be halted as part of the ongoing protests.

The Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), a prominent minority organization, has condemned the arrest and called for the monk’s release. Acting General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath emphasized concerns over freedom of expression and human rights, urging the Bangladeshi government to reconsider the charges.