Police in Bangladesh clashed with protesters in Dhaka and Chittagong on Tuesday, using tear gas to disperse crowds demonstrating against the arrest of Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. Das, associated with ISKCON, was detained at Dhaka airport on Monday on multiple charges, including sedition.
The arrest followed a rally in Chittagong in October, where Das was accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag. A court in Chittagong denied him bail on Tuesday, leading to an outpouring of protests from his supporters. As Das was being escorted back to prison, over 2,000 people surrounded the police van and blocked it for more than two hours, reportedly throwing bricks and causing minor injuries to a police officer.
In response, authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz confirmed that no serious injuries were reported among the protesters, but the altercation underscored rising tensions in the country.
The arrest has drawn strong condemnation from neighboring India, which issued a statement criticizing the charges against Das. The Indian government expressed concern over ongoing violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, noting that those responsible for attacks on Hindus and desecration of religious sites have not been brought to justice. India urged Bangladesh’s caretaker government to ensure the safety and security of its Hindu and minority communities.
