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The High Court's refusal came a day after the Bangladesh government had filed a writ petition, demanding a ban on Iskcon, which it termed a "religious fundamentalist organisation" as a result of the ongoing violence.
New Delhi/Kolkata,UPDATED: Nov 28, 2024 14:56 IST
The Bangladesh High Court on Thursday refused to pass a suo moto order to ban the Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in the country after the government submitted a report on its position on the Hindu religious organisation amid the ongoing violence which spiralled this week after the arrest of a Hindu monk on sedition charges.
The court's refusal came a day after the Bangladesh government had filed a writ petition to ban Iskcon, which it termed a "religious fundamentalist organisation" as a result of the nationwide violence that stemmed from expelled Iskcon monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari's arrest from the Dhaka airport on Monday.
Chinmoy Das has been charged in a sedition case for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag during a rally in October.
In response to the government's plea, the High Court directed the Attorney General to submit the government report by Thursday morning.
During the hearing today, Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque and Deputy Attorney General Md Asad Uddin informed the court three separate cases have been filed in connection with the killing of a Muslim lawyer during protests in Chittagong on Tuesday and the arrest of 33 people linked to the violence.
In response, the High Court expressed hope about the government remaining cautious about protecting the law and order situation, as well as the lives and properties of the people of Bangladesh.
ISKCON BANGLADESH'S MAJOR U-TURN ON CHINMOY DAS
On Thursday, Iskcon Bangladesh, in a major U-turn, dissociated itself from Chinmoy Krishna Das and said it was not responsible for the expelled member's words and actions.
"Chinmoy Krishna Das is not the spokesperson of Iskcon Bangladesh and thus his remarks are solely personal," Charu Chandra Das, the organisation's general secretary in the country, told reporters.
In an official statement on November 26, Iskcon Bangladesh did not refer to Chinmoy Krishna Das as a member of the organisation, but refered to him as a spokesperson of "Bangaldesh Sanmilito Sanatani Jagoron Jot" -- a newly formed umbrella body spearheading the fight to secure rights for Bangladeshi Hindus.
Meanwhile, the Sanatan Sanstha has decided to file a petition in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on December 1 for the monk's bail.
The organisation has planned to approach the Bangladesh High Court in case the lower court rejects the plea.
Anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh first erupted after a students' agitation over a controversial quota system turned into a massive anti-government protest, resulting in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.
Since then, the minority community, which constitutes only about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population, have faced over 200 attacks.
(With PTI inputs)
Published By:
Karishma Saurabh Kalita
Published On:
Nov 28, 2024
