Hindu groups in Bangladesh have called for nationwide prayers at temples on January 1, seeking the swift recovery of Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu Das, an ISKCON monk who is reportedly seriously ill in prison and not receiving proper medical care.
“Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu is seriously ill in prison and not receiving proper treatment from the government. He has been hospitalized twice. A call has been made for prayers at every temple in Bangladesh on January 1 for his recovery,” said the Bangladesh Shommilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote (BSSJJ), a prominent Bangladeshi Hindu rights group, in a statement.
Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is the spokesperson for BSSJJ, which has been leading protests advocating for the protection of minorities after the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. He was arrested in November by the Bangladeshi interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, facing sedition charges.
The charges are reportedly related to an incident last October when Brahmachari spearheaded a massive rally in Chittagong and was accused of disrespecting the national flag of Bangladesh. His supporters claim that this was politically motivated, intended to gag him for his open criticism over the shabby treatment of Bengali Hindus and other minorities.
A court in Chattogram denied his bail petition and sent him to jail on the sedition charges. The case hearing is set for January 2, 2025.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) has also issued a statement calling for his immediate release.
Amid the political upheaval that followed Hasina’s ousting, Hindus, who have sometimes been portrayed as dedicated backers of her party the Awami league, have suffered a new wave of retribution. Islamist radicals have also attacked Muslim Sufi shrines. In return, Hindu activists have held protests to demand safety from the government.
The illegal arrest of Chinmoy Krishna has caused great concern over the increased in attacks on Bangladeshi Bengali Hindus, Christians, hill tribes, and adivasis, in India, especially among the Hindu communities in India and the border states of Bangladesh.
