Bangladesh High Court Rejects Petition to Ban ISKCON
In a major relief for the Hindu community, the Bangladesh High Court on Thursday declined to issue a suo motu order banning the activities of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the country. Instead, the court directed the government to ensure the protection of lives, property, and maintain law and order nationwide.
The decision followed a petition submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Md Monir Uddin, who presented reports from various newspapers urging the court to order the government to ban ISKCON’s operations. He also called for the imposition of Section 144 in the cities of Chattogram, Rangpur, and Dinajpur, citing concerns over the group’s recent activities.
In response, the court instructed Bangladesh’s Attorney General to provide details on the government’s actions regarding ISKCON and to submit an update on the law and order situation by Thursday morning.
During the proceedings, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman described ISKCON as a “religious fundamentalist organisation,” emphasizing that it was under government scrutiny. He clarified that ISKCON was not a political party but rather a religious group, and the government was already investigating its activities.
This scrutiny comes amid heightened tensions following the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, which led to protests across the country. Several ISKCON temples and other Hindu places of worship were reportedly attacked by Islamic groups in the wake of the arrest.
The situation further escalated after the death of Assistant Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam during clashes between security forces and ISKCON followers, following the denial of bail to Brahmachari. These incidents prompted a lawyer to file a petition seeking a complete ban on ISKCON’s operations in Bangladesh.
While rejecting the immediate ban, the High Court urged the government to take proactive steps to maintain law and order and safeguard the rights and safety of all communities in the country.
