Bangladesh stops over 50 Iskcon members crossing into India: Reports

Bangladesh border authorities denied permission to dozens of members of the Hindu spiritual organisation Iskcon to cross into India, despite possessing valid travel documents, according to reports.

The 54 members, including devotees from various districts, arrived at the Benapole border crossing on Saturday night and Sunday morning. However, after waiting for hours, they were informed that their travel was not authorised, news agency PTI reported.

This comes amid reports of Bangladesh targeting the organisation, arresting top figures linked to it and freezing bank accounts.
Immigration police officials told the Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star that they had received instructions from higher authorities not to permit the team to cross into India.

"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, a Benapole Immigration Police officer, was quoted as saying.