Page 32 - Bangladesh

Bangladesh labels Iskcon fundamentalist: A look at its beliefs and history

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu priest, was arrested on Monday, sparking demonstrations across the Hindu community in Bangladesh

Iskcon branded 'fundamentalist' by Bangladesh govt amid rising tensions

The Attorney General of Bangladesh referred to Iskcon as a 'religious fundamentalist organisation' following the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari

Attacks on minorities in B'desh: Indian-Americans urge Biden to intervene

An influential Indian-American organisation has urged US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to call on the government of Bangladesh to protect the minority Hindu community in the country. In separate letters to Biden and Trump, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the escalating human rights violations against religious minorities in Bangladesh and the recent arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. Bangladesh's minority Hindus have faced over 200 attacks, including those on their temples, since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5, according to the FIIDS. Das was arrested on Monday in a sedition case and later denied bail by a court, triggering protests by community members in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. He was a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and was recen

Bangladesh court acquits former PM Khaleda Zia in corruption case

Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday acquitted former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a corruption case in which she was sentenced to seven years in jail by a lower court, according to media reports. Zia, 79, was convicted in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case in 2018 by a Dhaka court. It also sentenced her to seven years imprisonment under the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government and fined her Tk 1 million. A bench of Justices AKM Asaduzzaman and Syed Enayet Hossain overturned the decision based on an appeal by Zia, the bdnews24.com news portal reported. Two others accused in the case were also acquitted by the court. The graft case was filed in 2011 by the Anti-Corruption Commission with Tejgaon Police Station, accusing Zia and three others of abusing power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources, the Daily Star news portal reported. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson was lodged in the Old Dhaka Central Jail

Bangladesh steps up security, arrests 6 for lawyer's killing amid protests

Police also detained 21 others for vandalism and assaulting police officers during the unrest

Leaders in India condemn Chinmoy Das' arrest in B'desh, demand his release

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday called for unity in condemning the alleged arrest of an ISKCON priest in Bangladesh. The actor-politician urged the neighbouring country's interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to take steps to stop the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh. Let's all unite together in condemning the detention of ISKCON Bangladesh Priest Chinmoy Krishna Das' by Bangladesh police. We urge and plead Bangladesh Govt (government) under Mohammed Yunus to stop atrocities on Hindus, said Kalyan in a post on X. He recalled the sacrifices of the Indian Army in the formation of Bangladesh. Indian army blood has been spilled, our resources had been spent, our Army Jawans lives had lost for Bangladesh formation. We are deeply disturbed by the way our Hindu brothers and sisters are being targeted, he said while seeking the intervention of the United Nations.

Arrest of Iskcon monk in Bangladesh: What's behind the growing tensions?

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent figure advocating for Hindu rights, was arrested by Dhaka police for allegedly disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag at a rally

BJP to protest today over ISKCON B'desh priest's arrest: Suvendu Adhikari

He said this while holding a protest march in Behala against the arrest of ISKCON Bangladesh priest Chinmoy Krishna Das

India slams Bangladesh over arrest of ISKCON priest

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent Hindu leader and spokesperson for ISKCON and the Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote was detained on November 25 at Dhaka Airport.

Chinmoy Das arrest: India calls Bangladesh action 'unfortunate'. Here's why

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was arrested by Bangladesh police on Monday near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka

India asks B'desh to ensure minorities' safety amid Iskcon leader's arrest

India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, and urged authorities there to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities. Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Das, the leader of the Hindu group, Sammilita Sanatani Jote, from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka. In a statement, the MEA said it has noted with "deep concern the arrest and denial of bail" to Das who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. "This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh," it said. There are "several documented cases" of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, the MEA flagged. "It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a relig

Bangladesh to hire global law firm to review Adani, other power deals

Bangladesh said that external legal expertise is essential for a detailed review, which may lead to the renegotiation or even termination of certain contracts, including Adani Power

Indian Americans in Silicon Valley hold rally for Hindus in Canada, B'desh

Indian Americans in Silicon Valley held a solidarity rally for Hindus in Canada and Bangladesh over violence against them in these two countries. Addressing a gathering of scores of Indian Americans at the Milpitas City Hall, prominent community leaders spoke out about the attacks on the Hindu minority urging US leaders to condemn the human rights violations and hold the Canadian and Bangladesh governments accountable to safeguard their Hindu minority populations. The Bay Area is home to more than 200,000 Indian Americans. Participants at the rally expressed disappointment at the poor handling of the attack on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton where Khalistanis attacked Hindu devotees, a media release said. People in the rally were seen raising slogans "Stop khalistani terrorism, protect Canadian-Hindus", "Stop Islamist terrorism, protect Bangladeshi-Hindus". "We saw videos of the Khalistani terrorists invading the temple premises and beating up men, women and .

B'desh seeks to review major energy projects; Adani Group's one on list too

A review committee formed by Bangladesh's interim government on Sunday recommended engaging an investigation agency to examine power agreements signed by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's regime with different business groups, including one with India's Adani Group. The National Review Committee on Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has recommended the appointment of a reputed legal and investigation agency to review the major power production agreements signed during the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina from 2009 to 2024, an official statement said. The statement, issued by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's office, said the committee was currently reviewing seven major energy and power projects, including the Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234.4 MW coal-fired plant, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Power Limited. The six other agreements include one with a Chinese company that built a 1320 MW coal-fired power plant, while the rest are with Bangladeshi business groups said

Yunus hopes US-Bangladesh ties will thrive despite Trump's criticism

Bangladesh's neighbour and Hindu-majority India has strong cultural and business ties with Bangladesh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has also expressed concern over the spate of attacks

US urges Bangladesh to end violent crackdowns on peaceful protests

This statement follows a recent clash between members of the Hindu community and law enforcement forces in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong, triggered by a Facebook post criticising ISKCON

Bangladesh tribunal to review updates on arresting Sheikh Hasina today

A special tribunal in Bangladesh will hear updates from police on Monday about what the country's security agencies have done to arrest ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close aides who face charges over hundreds of deaths in a mass uprising this summer. Hasina has been living in exile in India since Aug 5 when she fled the country amid the student-led protests. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal on Oct 17 issued arrest warrants for Hasina and 45 others including former Cabinet ministers, advisors and military and civil officials. The country is now being run by an interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. At least 14 people, including a former law minister and a businessman who was Hasina's private-sector advisor, will appear before the tribunal on Monday, according to B M Sultan Mahmud, a prosecutor at the tribunal. Another six people will appear on Wednesday, tribunal officials said. At least 20 suspects have been arrested in t

'Trump has no ties with Imran Khan; to keep eye on B'desh situation'

US President-elect Donald Trump has no personal relationship with former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, a prominent Pakistani-American businessman and Trump backer has said. Sajid Tarar, who heads the Muslims for Trump organisation, also said that Trump -- who won the US presidential election for a second term in one of the most remarkable comebacks in American electoral history -- would strengthen ties with India and keep a close watch on allegations of human rights violations in Bangladesh. "A perception is being created by a particular party in Pakistan that he (Khan) has a personal relationship with Donald Trump. This is not true. It's a fact that, as president, Trump had invited Khan to the White House as the prime minister of Pakistan," Tarar told PTI in an interview. Trump will "not interfere" in the internal affairs of Pakistan or its judiciary to get Khan out of jail, he asserted. "He (Trump) may have a soft corner (for Khan)," he said. Khan was arrested last year af

Bangladesh will seek extradition of ousted ex-premier Hasina from India

Bangladesh's interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus said Sunday that his administration will seek the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, where has been in exile since fleeing a mass uprising in August. In a televised address to the nation on his first 100 days in office, Yunus said that the interim government will try those responsible including Hasina for hundreds of deaths during the student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Yunus took the helm on August 8, three days after Hasina fled the country. He said that not only the deaths in the uprising but all other violations of human rights, including alleged enforced disappearances while Hasina was in power, would be investigated. Bangladesh has sought help from the global police organisation Interpol in issuing a red notice for the arrest of Hasina and her associates. We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India, Yunus said. I have already discussed the .

'Democrats used human rights as political tool to win over Hindu-Americans'

Indian Americans are working to reach out to the new Trump administration and the Congress next year to seek action against the Bangladeshi regime, including imposing economic sanctions, an influential community leader has said. Encouraged by the recent statement of President-elect Donald Trump on Bangladesh, Dr Bharat Barai, an Indian American physician, exuded confidence that Trump would act against the South Asian nation over the persecution of the Hindu minority after he is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. He (Trump) has made a bold statement about the persecution of Bangladeshi Hindus and the desecration of Hindu temples, Barai told PTI in an interview. "He's a bold person who might consider economic sanctions if the situation doesn't improve," he added. In Washington to attend the annual Diwali celebrations at the US Capitol, which was attended by over two dozen US lawmakers and Indian Americans from across the country, Barai said community members are ...