ISKCON Kolkata: Two aides of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das arrested in Bangladesh

Two ISKCON monks, who are reportedly aides of detained spiritual leader Chinmoy Das, have been arrested in Bangladesh. ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das confirmed the arrests, stating that the monks were taken into custody while returning from delivering prasad to Chinmoy Das, who is currently in jail following his arrest earlier this week. Additionally, Chinmoy Das’s secretary has been reported missing.

Chinmoy Das was arrested on Monday at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while traveling to Chattogram to attend a scheduled rally. Following his detention, he was denied bail by the Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Tuesday and sent to jail.

In the same week, another ISKCON monk, Sri Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested by Chattogram police on Friday. The series of arrests involving ISKCON members has raised concerns, with unconfirmed reports suggesting the detention of additional devotees. Radharamn Das of ISKCON Kolkata has raised alarms over the situation, calling the arrests deeply shocking.

Historically, Hindus made up 22% of Bangladesh’s population during the 1971 Liberation War. However, the percentage has now dropped to approximately 8%, attributed to factors such as migration, socio-political changes, and instances of violence over the years.

No official statements have been issued by Bangladeshi authorities regarding the reasons for these arrests. Various religious groups, including ISKCON Kolkata, have called for the immediate release of the detained monks and further clarification from the government.