In a recently surfaced undated video, Bangladeshi police are seen making statements to the press, in which they reportedly labeled the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) a “terrorist organization.” This video, shared by Radharamn Das, Vice President and spokesperson for ISKCON in Kolkata, captures police claiming that ISKCON members chanted the Hindu slogan “Jai Shri Ram,” which they allege is evidence of terrorism. The police officer added, “They chanted the slogan “Jai Shri Ram”. Besides this, we can learn through Facebook and intelligence. ISKCON Hindus are mainly the ones who attack Muslims. We have learned through various Facebook posts that ISKCON Hindus have carried out the attacks.”
The Bangladeshi police held a press conference & labelled ISKCON as a terrorist organization, claiming that ISKCON members chant "Jai Sri Ram" as supposed evidence of this. 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/ynwLhr5K5I
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 13, 2024
This is not the first time that ISKCON has been targeted. This accusation follows remarks made earlier this month by Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh newspaper, who allegedly described ISKCON as a “militant organization” and “an agent of R&AW,” India’s foreign intelligence agency. Rahman also called for banning ISKCON in Bangladesh because they were organizing protests to fight for the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh. Following his comments, ISKCON leaders sought an apology, citing defamation and discrimination.
However, tensions escalated further when two ISKCON members were arrested days later on charges of sedition related to a recent rally in Chittagong on 25 October 2024. The Chittagong rally, held by Hindu communities calling for equal rights, sparked controversy after an image circulated online showing a flag reportedly hoisted above the Bangladeshi national flag—a move deemed seditious under Bangladesh’s laws.
Shortly after, sedition charges were filed against 19 individuals, including ISKCON’s Chittagong division organizing secretary and a coordinator from the Hindu Jagran Manch. The case was filed by a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), an opposition party critical of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration and reportedly seeking to capitalize on the charged political atmosphere.
ISKCON officials have denied any connection to the flag shown in the viral image, stating that the organization does not possess an official flag. They allege that the charges are politically motivated and that ISKCON is being unfairly targeted. Despite the apparent bias, police have proceeded with arrests. This development is part of a wider pattern of escalating scrutiny and hostility toward ISKCON in Bangladesh, evidenced by calls for the organization’s ban, defamatory allegations, and recent arrests of its members.
This surge in allegations, coupled with legal actions and arrests, points to what ISKCON claims is a politically driven campaign against the organization, with authorities allegedly neglecting to provide fair protections.
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