The Impact of Religious Violence on Hindu Monk Communities in Bangladesh
Religious violence in Bangladesh has significantly affected the Hindu monk community, highlighting growing threats to minority rights. The recent incident in Chittagong, where a march demanding a ban on ISKCON turned violent, reflects these escalating tensions. Following Friday prayers, several stores were vandalized, further deepening the crisis.
In a related incident, Ramen Roy, the Bangladeshi lawyer defending arrested Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was brutally attacked at his home by Islamist groups. Roy is currently in critical condition in the intensive care unit. ISKCON India’s Vice President, Radha Ramun Das, condemned the attack on Twitter, stating: “Please pray for defense lawyer Ramen Roy. His only ‘mistake’ was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court.” Das further emphasized that the attack was a “direct result” of Roy’s legal advocacy, a sentiment echoed by local Bengali news outlets and PTI reports.
Chinmoy Das was arrested at Dhaka Airport on November 25 under sedition charges, accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during an October rally. Previously expelled from ISKCON, he had been serving as a spokesman for the Bangladesh Sanmirit Sanatani Jagorong Jot, an emerging coalition advocating for Hindu minority rights.
The monk’s arrest sparked widespread protests across Dhaka and Chittagong, leading to violent clashes between his supporters and security forces. Tragically, a Muslim lawyer lost his life during a protest outside a Chittagong court, and authorities subsequently arrested at least 33 individuals linked to the unrest.
The rise of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh began amidst political instability triggered by the student-led protests over the controversial quota system and the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Since then, the Hindu minority, comprising only 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, has endured over 200 targeted attacks.
This surge in violence underscores the increasing vulnerability of religious minorities in Bangladesh and the urgent need for safeguarding their rights amidst growing societal tensions.