Page 34 - Bangladesh

Urged B'desh monks, devotees to practice faith discreetly: Iskcon Kolkata

ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das on Tuesday said he has urged its monks and followers from Bangladesh to avoid wearing saffron robes and 'tilak' in public, advising them to practice their faith discreetly amid safety concerns following targeted attacks against Hindu minorities in the neighbouring country. This suggestion comes in the wake of escalating violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government earlier this year, which has heightened anxieties among devotees and their families. "The situation in Bangladesh is alarming. The monks and devotees, who have been calling us, we have told them to hide their identity as ISKCON followers or monks publicly. We have asked them to practice their faith discreetly inside homes or inside the temples. We have advised them to dress in a manner that does not draw attention," Das, who is also ISKCON Kolkata vice-president, told PTI. He emphasised that the measure was temporary and aimed ..

Bangladesh halves power buying from Adani Power amid payment dispute

An Adani Power spokesperson said the firm was continuing supply to Bangladesh, although mounting dues were a significant concern, making plant operations unsustainable

Monks protest at Indo-Bangla border for release of Iskcon temple priest

Over 1,000 monks from across West Bengal are taking part in a demonstration at the Petrapole border in North 24 Parganas on Monday to protest against the attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh, and the release of arrested spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country. The monks, under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, started arriving since morning at the protest site, about 800 meters from the Petrapole border checkpost. West Bengal BJP leaders, led by Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, have also announced an agitation program at Petrapole border on Wednesday over the Bangladesh issue. Members of the Hindu Jagran Manch and other religious groups are also likely to join the protest. "We will form a human chain and protest to convey our message of peace to the Indian government and the Bangladesh dispensation, demanding an immediate stop of atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh," said a monk, after reaching the Petrapole ..

Mamata Banerjee calls for UN peacekeeping in Bangladesh amid violence

Bangladesh unrest: Mamata Banerjee's appeal comes after reports of escalating unrest in Bangladesh, where three Hindu priests from the Iskcon have been detained

No indication of B'desh reviewing power deal: Adani Power amid indictment

Reuters reported on Sunday that Bangladesh wants to sharply lower prices under the deal with Adani Group, unless it is cancelled by a court that has called for an investigation into the 25-year deal

AAP's Raghav Chadha gives notice in RS to discuss Bangladesh Iskcon issue

Earlier on November 30, ISKCON Kolkata alleged that Bangladesh authorities have arrested two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, and the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das

B'desh court acquits Zia's son, 48 others convicted in 2004 grenade attack

Bangladesh's High Court on Sunday acquitted former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, and 48 others, overturning their verdicts in a deadly 2004 grenade attack on a political rally. The ruling comes at a critical time as the South Asian country suffers political tension after longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India in August following a mass uprising that left hundreds dead. Rahman serves as the acting chairperson of Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party while in self-exile in London, and could become Bangladesh's next leader if his party is voted into power. Rahman and the 48 others were found guilty in 2018 in the attack targeting a rally held by supporters of Hasina, who led the opposition at the time, leaving two dozen people dead and wounding about 300 others. A court sentenced 19 of them to death while Rahman got life in prison, with Zia's party accusing the ruling counterpart of being politically motivated. A two-member judge panel scrappe

Bangladeshi officials turn back Iskcon members from crossing into India

Dozens of ISKCON members who possessed valid travel documents were turned back on Sunday by Bangladesh's immigration police from Benapole border crossing when they tried to cross into India, a media report said. "We consulted the special branch of police and received instructions from the higher authorities not to permit them (to cross the border)," Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Benapole Immigration Police, was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper. The ISKCON members reportedly had valid passports and visas but "lacked specific government permission" required for their travel, Bhuiyan said. "They cannot proceed without such approval," he said. The 54 members, including devotees from various districts, arrived at the check post on Saturday night and Sunday morning. However, even after waiting for hours for permission, they were informed their travel was not authorised. "We came to participate in a religious ceremony taking place in India but

Bangladesh wants to renegotiate Adani Power deal unless court cancels

The deal was signed in 2017 by Adani and a government entity under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted this year amid a popular uprising and accusations of widespread corruption

Flights to Kolkata from Bangladesh dwindling due to crisis, traders hit

The number of flights to Kolkata from Bangladesh has dwindled over the last few months with a falling passenger count, amid the ongoing crisis in the neighbouring country, officials at the NSCBI airport here said on Sunday. One airline from India has also scrapped its plan to begin flight services between Kolkata and Dhaka for the time being, they said. Flights arriving in Kolkata, operated by US-Bangla Airlines, a private carrier of the neighbouring country, were 84 in July and the number came down to 24 in November, the officials said. According to officials at the Kolkata airport, the airline carried 7,391 passengers to Kolkata in July, which came down to 1,646 in November. The number of departures from Kolkata to Bangladesh simultaneously shows the same trend. Similarly, the national carrier of the neighbouring country Biman Bangladesh had operated 59 flights to Kolkata in July and the number fell to 28 in November, the officials said. Indian low-cost carrier Indigo's flight

Nothing should be forced on anyone, B'desh situation not good: Tripura CM

CM Saha also expressed concern as he pointed out that many terrorists who were jailed when the Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister in Bangladesh

Iskcon claims arrest of 2 more monks, secretary of Chinmoy Das in B'desh

Vice President of Iskcon Kolkata Radha Raman said that the monks were arrested on Friday by the police while on their way to home after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Das

RSS asks Bangladesh govt to stop atrocities on Hindus, free Iskcon monk

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday appealed to the Bangladesh interim government to ensure the atrocities on the Hindus are stopped and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das is released from jail immediately. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in a statement also appealed to the Indian government to continue its efforts to stop the atrocities on the Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and take necessary steps to build global opinion in its support "as soon as possible". "The attacks, murders, looting, arson as well as inhuman atrocities by Islamic fundamentalists on Hindus, women and all other minorities in Bangladesh are extremely worrying and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh condemns this," he said. Instead of stopping this, the present Bangladesh government and other agencies are only silent spectators, Hosabale said. "Out of helplessness, a new phase of injustice and atrocities seems to be emerging against the Hindus of Bangladesh to suppress the voice rais

Three Hindu temples vandalised by mob in Bangladesh's Chattogram

Three Hindu temples were vandalised by a slogan-shouting mob on Friday in Bangladesh's Chattogram which has witnessed protests and violence since a former ISKCON member was booked under sedition charges. The attack took place around 2:30 pm in the port city's Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, where the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, the nearby Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple were targeted, news portal BDNews24.com reported. "A group of several hundred slogan-shouting people threw brickbats at the temples, damaging the Shoni Temple and the gates of the other two temples," the news portal quoted temple authorities as saying. Kotwali Police Station chief Abdul Karim confirmed the attack, saying that assailants attempted to damage the temples. Police, however, said the damage to the temples was minimal after the confrontation between the two sides, with both groups throwing brickbats at each other, it added. Tapan Das, a permanent member of the Shantineshwari Main Temple

Interim govt in Bangladesh must protect all minorities, says MEA

India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the "surge" of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence in the neighbouring country. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladeshi government the threats and "targeted attacks" on Hindus and other minorities. "Our position on the matter is clear -- the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities," he said. Jaiswal was replying to a question on the situation at his weekly media briefing. "We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration," he said. "We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities," he added. On the arrest of Hindu m

Highlights: BCAS imposes fine of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo over violations of aviation security protocols

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Security agencies should focus on challenges along eastern border: Shah

The focus should be on emerging security challenges along the eastern border, immigration and trends in urban policing

B'desh claims its flag burnt during protest in WB, demands missions' safety

Bangladesh on Friday expressed deep concern over the violent protest at the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and urged New Delhi to ensure safety of all its diplomatic missions in India. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also claimed that the Bangladesh flag and an effigy of the interim government chief Muhammad Yunus were burnt during the protest that turned violent on Thursday. Members of Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch took out a rally to the office of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to protest attacks on the Hindu community and arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. Das, a former member of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) of Bangladesh, was arrested in connection with a sedition case on Monday and denied a bail on Tuesday. It triggered protests by Hindu community members in various locations in Bangladesh, including in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. Friday's statement from the Ministry o

‘Protect minorities’: India calls on Bangladesh over attacks on Hindus

Interim govt in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities: MEA on alleged targeting of Hindus.

Bangladesh freezes bank accounts of 17 ISKCON members for 'sedition'

Bangladesh's authorities have ordered freezing for 30 days the bank accounts of 17 people associated with ISKCON, including its former member Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested this week on sedition charges, media reports said Friday. The move comes after the Bangladesh High Court rejected a petition seeking a ban on International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), following the killing of a lawyer in a clash between the Hindu leader's supporters and security personnel. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent these directives to different banks and financial institutions on Thursday, suspending all types of transactions related to these accounts for a month, newspaper Prothom Alo said. The financial intelligence agency under the central Bangladesh Bank asked the banks and financial institutions to send information, including updated transaction statements of accounts related all businesses owned by these 17 individuals, within the next three working days, it said.