The Dhaka High Court on Thursday, 28 November 2024, declined to issue a suo motu order to ban the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, noting that authorities have already initiated necessary measures.
During the hearing, the bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury reviewed information provided by the Attorney General’s office. Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque and Deputy Attorney General Md. Asad Uddin informed the court that three separate cases have been registered concerning the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif and ISKCON-related activities, leading to the arrest of 33 individuals.
The bench emphasized that the government must remain vigilant in protecting law and order, as well as the safety of citizens and their property, given the sensitive nature of the situation.
The court’s decision followed a request from Supreme Court lawyer Md. Monir Uddin, who submitted newspaper reports highlighting ISKCON’s activities. He had urged the bench to ban the organization and impose Section 144 in Chattogram, Rangpur, and Dinajpur.
The High Court, in response, had earlier directed the Attorney General to report on the steps taken by the government. In Thursday’s session, the bench expressed hope that the authorities would continue to act with caution to maintain peace and stability.
The petition against ISKCON alleges that the organization incites communal tensions through religious events, imposes its beliefs on traditional Hindu communities, and forcibly converts members of lower Hindu castes. Additional claims include the takeover of Sanatan temples and alleged involvement in communal attacks on mosques. The petition further accused ISKCON of destabilizing the nation and collaborating with foreign media to foster discord.
This controversy has been further intensified by the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Chattogram on charges of sedition. Das was accused of raising a flag on a stand displaying the national flag of Bangladesh and was denied bail, leading to widespread criticism and demands for his release.
(With inputs from Daily Star)
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